Black Cork Decoy Pics?
- Thread starter Lee L.
- Start date
Pete McMiller
Well-known member
Here's one, also recently posted under Can Decoys. Black cork, no bottom board or filler. Plywood tail and pine keel. Toledo head. The Can is black cork and the Red Head is tan cork. Not fancy but certainly functional.
Mike Trudel
Well-known member
You'll want to fill your large voids. Water freezing and thawing under the surface, will break down your cork and allow water to saturate.
What Pete isn't telling you about his black cork, its higher density and better quality than you can get now.
Hollywood is the largest user of black cork, and they don't care about quality, so really good, carvers grade black cork is no longer available.
What Pete isn't telling you about his black cork, its higher density and better quality than you can get now.
Hollywood is the largest user of black cork, and they don't care about quality, so really good, carvers grade black cork is no longer available.
Bill Embacher
Well-known member
I do.....let me dig them up and I will get to it tonight.
Pete McMiller
Well-known member
Yes, Paul it is. Actually the Cans were done with some of the first cork Mark had. I still have some 'special reserve black cork' left for when I get the gumption to carve some more birds.
Bill Embacher
Well-known member
Ed Gagnes Can
ringer
and whistler
thats all have that I can find here in my files.....nice work Ed!
ringer
and whistler
thats all have that I can find here in my files.....nice work Ed!
Last edited:
Bob B
Well-known member
Lee,
these were posted by Chuck Lowe back in 2001. Liked them then and still do.
These were my best friends grandfathers! He had 6 cans and 6 goldeneyes.
They do have bottom boards however. One was stamped Middletown CT. No idea who made them, but they sure worked. I carefully repainted a few about 5 years ago. Amazingly simple but very effective pattern. On the water from the blind or boat they just looked like the real thing resting. And the real ones sure thought so as well. If they could talk the stories they could tell.....
these were posted by Chuck Lowe back in 2001. Liked them then and still do.
These were my best friends grandfathers! He had 6 cans and 6 goldeneyes.
They do have bottom boards however. One was stamped Middletown CT. No idea who made them, but they sure worked. I carefully repainted a few about 5 years ago. Amazingly simple but very effective pattern. On the water from the blind or boat they just looked like the real thing resting. And the real ones sure thought so as well. If they could talk the stories they could tell.....
Great looking decoys! Thanks for posting!
If you haven't figured it out I am trying to gain inspiration to take my carving in a bit different direction. I have always liked the older style decoys but carve more contemporary. I have almost always used bottom boards and Trestle coated my decoys. Both of which add weight, extra time, makes more work and eats up more money. I want to do a simple body style with simple paint. I would like to do some black cork birds just because I can get 3 sheets of black cheaper than I can get 2 sheets of tan. On the other hand I would have to add a bottom board to the black cork so it would take more work and extra money. I would buy Red Cedar for the bottom boards since it would be lighter but I still don't think it would outweigh a tan cork bird that didn't have a bottom board.
Keep the pics coming! I enjoy looking at them.
If you haven't figured it out I am trying to gain inspiration to take my carving in a bit different direction. I have always liked the older style decoys but carve more contemporary. I have almost always used bottom boards and Trestle coated my decoys. Both of which add weight, extra time, makes more work and eats up more money. I want to do a simple body style with simple paint. I would like to do some black cork birds just because I can get 3 sheets of black cheaper than I can get 2 sheets of tan. On the other hand I would have to add a bottom board to the black cork so it would take more work and extra money. I would buy Red Cedar for the bottom boards since it would be lighter but I still don't think it would outweigh a tan cork bird that didn't have a bottom board.
Keep the pics coming! I enjoy looking at them.
Ron Smith
Active member
I like black cork. I like the way it looks with all the voids. It sure is messy to work with. I carve a lot of tan cork because that is what people seem to want (and it does carve nice). The other day I gunned over some black cork deeks I carved in 1999...still going strong
Pete McMiller
Well-known member
Lee, Why do you think you need a bottom board on Black Cork? I have hunted my black cork cans every year since I carved them. No babying. They are on long lines and I don't unclip them except from one season to the next. They are hauled around in leaf bags, banged on to get the ice off, etc. The ONLY thing that has happened in 11 or 12 years is that one bill broke on a toledo head. Seal them puppies good with several dunkings in a mixture of linseed and varnish and you won't have a problem. Oh, I guess I should mention, slightly radius the chine to eliminate the possibility of breakout there. I never measured mine but I suppose I have a radius of 1/4" to 1/2".
Pete McMiller
Well-known member
Why hard chines?
Personally I think decoys ride much better with a slightly rounded chine - not much, like I said 1/4 to 1/2" is fine to prevent cork from splitting out. I don't want a rounded bottom but a little, so I don't need a bottom board, is perfect.
Personally I think decoys ride much better with a slightly rounded chine - not much, like I said 1/4 to 1/2" is fine to prevent cork from splitting out. I don't want a rounded bottom but a little, so I don't need a bottom board, is perfect.
I have always went with a hard chine on my decoys because that was my style. Since I am changing direction a bit I will try rounding the bottoms a bit as well. Wasn't sure how the black cork bottoms held up even when rounded. I will more than likely order a case of black cork to make my divers out of.
John Augustine
Well-known member
I've made about 60 black cork decoys and hunt them hard on long lines. I'm trying to get you some pictures.
Mine do not have bottom boards but do have a slight radius on the chine. I do however coat the bottoms with roofing tar.
after a good coat the bottoms are more substantial and add very little weight. I also insert tail boards and dowel
or screw through the keel into both the tail and head. My oldest are 8yrs old and no problems yet.
I'll try to get pictures, John
Mine do not have bottom boards but do have a slight radius on the chine. I do however coat the bottoms with roofing tar.
after a good coat the bottoms are more substantial and add very little weight. I also insert tail boards and dowel
or screw through the keel into both the tail and head. My oldest are 8yrs old and no problems yet.
I'll try to get pictures, John