November Workbench

Eric Patterson said:
Just completed the first batch. These will go in the duck blinds we've built and help each hunter keep up with their ducks. Following a hunt the ducks can stay on them until cleaned. We will take them to the blind on the next hunt where they will stay unless totin' ducks home. I am putting a video together on how I make them. It is fairly easy to do but I figure someone can get some ideas if they want to make their own.

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Is this just string or wire with rubber coating? I am assuming you slide the line through the loop and gravity holds down on the ducks neck or foot (depending on how its hung). My question is any issue with the rubber coated wire not getting tight enough on the bird and them falling out? I have made these with paracord and key rings essentially, and the looseness of the paracord cinches down nicely. I would be worried wire would have some form of memory and not cinch down tight enough. Im guessing its been tested though if making this many. I like the idea of each shooter having one and keeping up with limits that way as well. This is a fantastic idea for a permanent blind. Think I am going to pass this on to the guys I know running big big blinds and having lots of hunters in and out of them.
 
William

It is ordinary .095 string trimmer line. Yes, the line slides through split crimp and tightens around the ducks ankle or neck. I just made them and can't say from experience, but I have no doubt it will hold securely based on the finger test and other things I cinched the loop down on to test it. The weight of a swinging duck tightens the loop. Also, others are making and selling them online ($25 and up). These would be over $500 going that route not including shipping. They were nowhere near that and if I used cheap carabiners instead of brass snap rings the cost would be down to a few bucks a piece in materials.

Thanks.
 
Eric Patterson said:
William

It is ordinary .095 string trimmer line. Yes, the line slides through split crimp and tightens around the ducks ankle or neck. I just made them and can't say from experience, but I have no doubt it will hold securely based on the finger test and other things I cinched the loop down on to test it. The weight of a swinging duck tightens the loop. Also, others are making and selling them online ($25 and up). These would be over $500 going that route not including shipping. They were nowhere near that and if I used cheap carabiners instead of brass snap rings the cost would be down to a few bucks a piece in materials.

Thanks.
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Awesome awesome. Ya I build ones that go around my neck and carry birds on each side as I hike in and out and almost never hunt out of a blind. But if hunting out of a blind, I really like how these are laid out. My version is a lot more cumbersome and could get in the way more if in a blind. Would of never thought to use trimmer line, and thats a fantastic idea sir.

I have tons of paracord laying around. I used to build quite a few lanyards and have always built my own. Seems a kiddo would be on a hunt and want my lanyard, and I can never say no. So I would strip calls and bands and hand it over. Ever since I built this purple one though, no one seems to want it, so itll stay with me forever im sure.
 
I can't take credit for the string trimmer line idea because I saw others do it. I will admit the best duck tote I've ever owned was made by @Brad F and sent to me as a gift. I have kept up with it for many years because it works so well, despite my son and his friends eyeing it. Like yours it is made of paracord. The reason for these new ones is I needed a bunch for the duck blinds and want a way hunters can keep up with their ducks. I have a dislike for piling of ducks during a hunt and group limits. This won't prevent that, but at the least the lines are less blurry.
 
Eric Patterson said:
I can't take credit for the string trimmer line idea because I saw others do it. I will admit the best duck tote I've ever owned was made by @Brad F and sent to me as a gift. I have kept up with it for many years because it works so well, despite my son and his friends eyeing it. Like yours it is made of paracord. The reason for these new ones is I needed a bunch for the duck blinds and want a way hunters can keep up with their ducks. I have a dislike for piling of ducks during a hunt and group limits. This won't prevent that, but at the least the lines are less blurry.
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Its much easier to keep up with limits when everyone is maintaining their birds in front of them though. I get this as I have been on many group hunts and seems this is the only feasible way to keep birds organized and ensure staying within the limit laws. I 100% get where you are going with these and like stated before, I really like how streamlined these are for blinds.
 
Eric, I made some totes as well, as the big leather drops that came with the tote just added too much bulk. I used the same black TexasRig/ Decoy line crimps. I did drill one side out larger so the coated cable could slide a little more. I might have to make some more as I could almost do away with the leather strap all together if I had used a normal clip.
 

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Dave

Very good. Where did you first come across the design? I can find three makers now, Cajun Duck Supply, Rolling Thunder, and Rogers. Not sure who devised it, could be decades old, but it just now seems to be catching on.
 
Eric Patterson said:
Dave

Very good. Where did you first come across the design? I can find three makers now, Cajun Duck Supply, Rolling Thunder, and Rogers. Not sure who devised it, could be decades old, but it just now seems to be catching on.
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Eric, I think it was Cajun Duck Supply. I was going to buy a set, but then realized I had everything at the house. Originally I made a set out of 300# mono but they curled, I didn't know about the boiling water under tension trick.
 
Rainy days are for inside projects. A neighbor of mine did some extensive tree trimming/removal of a couple soft Maples in his yard. I grabbed one small log, to see if there was a bowl inside.
Pretty happy with the results. The bowl is 9 inches in diameter and 4 inches deep. The Maple wood is dripping with sap and will need to dry out before a sealer can be applied.

I used a large fostner bit to create a flat for the face of chuck jaws to seat against. I drilled a 5/16 pilot hole for a worm screw to thread into to secure the wood up against the chuck jaws.20241118_123852.jpg

Throwing tree sap up the backsplash.
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May be an image of drill press


Doesn't take long to create a pile of shavings.
May be an image of drill press


The bowl has "fiber fuzz" in a few places because it is way too wet to even attempt to put sandpaper to the surface. It will need to dry out for a couple weeks before it can be sanded and a finish applied.
No photo description available.
 
Ronald Bock said:
McKenzie taxidermy supply out of Quarry City NC. They came in really quick. They are VanDyke 9mm eyes.
Hope that helps.
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Thanks, Ronald!

I have been using McKenzie/Van Dyke for many years - but they were "out of stock" in recent years. Supply chain? Good to know they are a source once again.

All the best,

SJS
 
Eyes are really quite easy to make, mine are pretty basic. I use modge podge or uv resin. I have to get going on some spearing decoys and I’ll make sure to take some pics.
 
Eric Patterson said:
Ben

Those are really cool. They must take some kind of patience to make. I wouldn't know where to start.
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Yes Eric, it does take patience for sure but it tries my attention span. It was hard to stay focused on the adjustable wrench for how long it was taking, my mind was already wondering to the next project.
 
benp said:
The adjustable wrench was a pain to do by hand, one day I'm going to get a mill so these kind of projects will be easier and more precise.

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Do you always build miniatures? My "father in law" is a miniature builder. Builds houses, tools, nick nacks of every kind. Has his own business and has a 40x40 storage area with just bins of all these things he sells that are all miniatures of whatever. Dressers, beds.... i mean you name it, hes made it seems. Just wondering if you build other miniature things or just tools. It is a fascinating hobby to me. Takes real precision to make really good miniature objects, especially tools. That wrench is adjustable wrench is really something
 
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