Michael McCord
Active member
What gauge wire do you use for canvas birds?
Canvas decoy question...
- Thread starter Michael McCord
- Start date
Chuck J
Well-known member
Michael
12-9 gauge galv wire. Buy it at the hardware store. Many use 12 and it is fine, I have used it on many birds. On Swans, I like 9 gauge as it give extra strength. It is a little harder to bend (which of course gives it the extra strength) and a bit heavier. I have gone back to 12 on some recent birds to save weight, and have many in use, in my rig that were made with 12 gauge. Unless you are making big geese or swans, I'd recomend starting with 12 as you learn to shape it.
Fire away with any more questions,
Chuck
12-9 gauge galv wire. Buy it at the hardware store. Many use 12 and it is fine, I have used it on many birds. On Swans, I like 9 gauge as it give extra strength. It is a little harder to bend (which of course gives it the extra strength) and a bit heavier. I have gone back to 12 on some recent birds to save weight, and have many in use, in my rig that were made with 12 gauge. Unless you are making big geese or swans, I'd recomend starting with 12 as you learn to shape it.
Fire away with any more questions,
Chuck
I'm planning to get some pics up soon of my first pair of geese and went with 11-guage, mainly because that was all I could find locally, and it's worked well. On my first attempt at covering the birds I used a very heavy (too heavy) canvas and the wire held up fine under a lot of pressure. Now I'm using lighter, stretchier stuff and their still fine.
Michael McCord
Active member
Thanks for the quick replies. One other question- I intend to paint with acrylics. Should I prep the canvas any different than a wood bird?
Chuck J
Well-known member
Michael
If you want to finish in acrylic, I'd first seal the canvas in an oil based primer, such as Kilz or Zinzer. That will soak in to the fibers good and give you additional tightness. Acrylic sealers seem to just stick to the surface, and subsiquent layers lay on top of this.
Chuck
If you want to finish in acrylic, I'd first seal the canvas in an oil based primer, such as Kilz or Zinzer. That will soak in to the fibers good and give you additional tightness. Acrylic sealers seem to just stick to the surface, and subsiquent layers lay on top of this.
Chuck
Bill Clark
Well-known member
Mike,
If you want to go traditional you can do what the old timers on the outer banks used to do,climb a telegraph pole cut a section of wire down,find a piece of wood from a ship wreck and cover it with a piece of old sail cloth. At least that is what i have read.
If you want to go traditional you can do what the old timers on the outer banks used to do,climb a telegraph pole cut a section of wire down,find a piece of wood from a ship wreck and cover it with a piece of old sail cloth. At least that is what i have read.
Michael McCord
Active member
Bill, I think I'll just buy my materials. Shipwrecks are a whole lot harder to find than a hardware store in the mountains of east TN!
Michael McCord
Active member
And as I type this, I can hear a flock of geese flying over- the birds that will hopefully fall for the canvas decoys I intend to make.