Cleaning Cork Decoys ???????

C

charlie foulds

Well-known member
Well with the season ending today. The first shutout of the season, oh well. I had the most gratifying and successful season ever. I was wondering how you guys who hunt the salt, clean your cork blocks. I have been hosing them down during the season to get that dull dry salty look off, but now I am going to put them on the shelf until next year and wanted to give them a good washing. Ant suggestions???????
 
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charlie, i personally wouldnt touch them. the duller the better in my opinion. but if you have some salt and muck on them that you want to get off, i would think warm water and a sponge would do the job. glad you a had a rewarding season. im sure your great new boat had something to do with that! best, mark
 
You got your cork decoys dirty? Just have to throw them out and carve new ones.

If you must, maybe mix a bucket of Dawn dish soap and use a soft brush.

Then carve some new ones.
 
Charlie--keeping in mind that i am not exactly delicate with stuff---We have the salt and a fine clay suspended in the water on our marsh--At end of season, they always have a lovely patina, which really needs to be gone--
After taking all of the weights and lines off, i put four or five in the garage sink-my float tank, duck washing station, etc., and give the dekes a dose of warm water, to soak, then sprinkle on some comet, and leave them for a few minutes--then i lightly scour with a scrub brush-you can sponge too, while running fresh water the whole time---They are then shelved to dry and the ones needing rehab are taken to the shop..
I have done this for a long time--problem with leaving that rime is that next year, it will just get worse.
You CAN always repaint them after four or five years--that will likely have to be done anyway.
Have had stuff come back this year after over 15 years of hard gunning--paint was still fresh, although there were abrasions, contusions, pellet holes, etc. Oldest that came back for rehab were made around 1985.
Whatever you do, get that crap off the surface!!

The freshwater guys just don't have the same problems as those of us who gun coasts.
 
Hey Charlie,
I get mine wet and let them soak. I use a soft brush, but most of the time I just use my hands to gentkey remove the mudd. dc
 
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Hello Charlie----I live in MI and hunt there and winter in Clearwater--and fish there; with some long time Floridians. Thee turned me on to Salt Away----salt away .com----check out the site---works like a charm on all kinds of stuff. However, having said that I have some corkers and it took a lot of work to carve, paint etc. Might want to contact the Co. or try it on one first for a look see. Not very expensive and I believe Wal Mart etc. carry it in spray bottles. Hope it works for you. Jerry
 
on a slightly related note. I had a bird soak up a ton of water this year. It looks like water got in at the front where I had a nail inserted through a piece of leather to tie the bird off, and also through a couple shot holes. This bird probably put on 5-6 lbs. It is a cork bird. What you do to ligthen and reseal?

don't let this effect your answer, but I took the forstner to the bottom of it last night just cause I was curios about how much water was in there. The bottom 1.5 inches of the cork were completely saturated bow to stern. It looked like once water got in, it couldn't get back out through the sealed bottom. Now I am not sure what to do with the bird. he is drying in the workshop.
 
Kris I would fill the shot holes in with cork dust and epoxy glue and the hole where the leather is, after the decoy as dried out and then make a plug and fill in that bigger hole that you drilled to let water out, again using epoxy glue, then once that is done a touch up with some paints and then rewater proof it.
take care and God Bless
Eddie.
Its all about Building that Bond.
 
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Now I am not sure what to do with the bird.
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Kris,

Just send it to me and your worries are over. No need to thank me, I'm glad to help.
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I like it Dave you have got a way with words. HeHeHe
take care and God Bless
Eddie.
Its all about Building That Bond.
 
I just take them to the car wash and line them up on the bay floor and go to town with the sprayer. Works great!!! Have them all done in about 15 minuets.

Craig
 
Kris,
when wiley went out of business, we noted the wicking problem--Solution-
if you have hot air heating, and a basement, put the deke upside down on a duct and leave it-periodically, check for weight loss---when it is suficiently dry:
seal completely with at least two coats of either GAC 700, or a water based-fast drying urethane floor sealer--make sure you see NO little spaces where water can again wick through the surface. put on a coat of of black or brown-look carefully to make sure you see no little visible holes, then paint--
Problem began when you broke the seal on the bottom--keel only, and use gorilla--NO SCREWS--
Be judicious --when you shoot one, if holes are on side or low on water line---repair asap... Remember to seal all new stuff---I am assuming this is tan cork we are dealing with?
 
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Kris, if it's not sealed entirely, I would turn the decoy upside down and try to drain out the water that way. Give it some time in a dry spot and then when it lightens up, reseal the entire deke.........dc.
 
Charlie - After you clean them, a coat of Finish Feeder is a must... Pat
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Thanks Guys for all of your ideas. I wound up just cleaning them in the basement slop sink with warm water and a soft bristle brush. They look new again. Three shot holes for 26 decoys......not bad I guess.

Pat, What is "Finish Feeder"..?? What is its function??
 
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