Bottom boards on cork decoys

Chuck J

Chuck J

Well-known member
What wood do you guys prefer for the bottom board on cork decoys? Is the species very critical.

I received my sheet of cork from Willy yesterday and thought I'd glue some up this weekend if I have something around the house that will work. Single digits and white out conditions here, so not really time for a drive to find some wood.

Thanks

Chuck
 
Chuck,
Regular 1X pine is all ya need. It's cheap, does the job when glued on adequatley and is tough enough. You don't want anything light weight, such as paulownia however. One secondary function of that bottom board is ballast on the bottom. Light wood will help defeat that function.
Good luck with it.
 
I use 1X pine and attatch using titebond 3 glue. Let it set a few days to make sure the gle dries in the middle.
 
Chuck,
if you are talking about tan, if you just remember to SLIGHTLY round at the bottom, you will really not need the extra weight--Bottom board is pretty much a requirement when using black cork, but not needed with tan.
 
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George is right..not really needed..but..I like to have the beef to attach keels, and I like to have it for holding the washer and screwhead that holds the head on. 1x pine is fine..or if you have some cedar..that works good too if it's scrap...otherwise use it for tailboards.
 
Thanks for the replies. It is tan cork, but what I had read about bottom boards was along Harker's thinking of a secure attachment point. I have lots of pine 1x scrapwood lying around. Should be a good way to use up some of that. As far as tailboards, I don't think I have any cedar, but I could probably dig up some basswood.

Rutgers, have you had trouble with Titebond 2 (or similar) glue separating? I have about a third of a gallon jug of Titebond 2 in the house. Is there a need for Titebond 3? (It's not like I am going to leave these decoys sitting out on the water all season.)

Chuck
 
For extra secure BB's drive a couple of 3/8" dowel pieces at opposing angles through the BB into the cork

( / \ ) like so if you will
 
I'd use pine before basswood for the tails, cut it so the grain goes into the bird..also run the grain on the bottom board from front to back lengthwise. Most of my dekes have titebond2 in them. I think what paul was getting at is keep them clamped for 3-4 days so the glue sets up..seems to take longer on a cork to wood connection for some reason. I used a lot of Elmers Poly glue for bottom boards but I don't like the seam and the mess it makes while curing.
 
I use pine for bottom board and tail board. Then dowel the head & the tail. Nothin' is going anywhere. TB2 by the way.....

Josh
 
I don't use a bottom board and I have never seen or heard of problems attaching a keel directly to cork. To me it just adds more work and more areas that you could have probelms with in the future.
 
I never had problems with cork (tan or black) without bottom boards. But it wont hurt to add them if thats what you want to do.


Chris
 
hey, one serious drawback with dowelling or screwing from the bottom board into the cork-----the tan DOES have a tendancy to wick water if ANY little imperfections exist in the sealing---BE CAREFUL---I do not use a bottom board, and have switched to gorilla for keel attachment, AFTER sealing and base painting ! keep a weather eye for weight changes, guys/
 
I have been using black cork without any bottom boards for about three years now with no apparent
problems. I use a deck screw through the keel into the head and angle a dowell from the back of the bird toward
the head and have had no problems. I also use gorilla glue and multiple coats of spar varnish before and after
keel attachment.
John
 
I put bottom boards on all of my decoys. I use 1by pine and Titebond 2. If you seal the decoy it will be fine and last you many years.
 
I use a one bye bottom board using Gorilla glue. I prefer the surface it profides for branding and engraving as well as notes and etc that you may wish to put upon the board. The bottom board also helps with self righting. Although it places more weight into the decoy it just seems (for me) to be a good method to stregthen a decoy. I do not baby my gunners and it is nice to know that they can be "placed" into a pile when pulling decoys on mother lines. Thanks for purchasing your raw materials from a great supplier. Willy and Di are top notch.

regards,
Chuck
 
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