Decoy Carving Central Iowa

T

tim atkinson

New member
Hello,

This is my first post on this site. Recently I began developing the idea that I need to get a layout style boat to allow access to some prime duck holes in my area. All my research has led me towards an Aquapod. I have not got it yet but while researching this style of boat I came accross an aspect of the sport that sparked my interest...decoy carving. For weeks now I have been reading post after post on this subject and I think I am hooked and I havn't even scratched a piece of wood yet. I have always had an artistic bug and I see this an outlet to keep waterfowling alive throughout the year. So here's the rub. I asked around on my local Iowa waterfowling site and was pointed towards one guy in Des Moines who is an active carver. I have not been able to reach this gentlemen yet and I am craving information on this subject and how to get into it locally. I see guys talking about lumber suppliers in their part of the nation and Iowa just doesn't seem to have the same things going on because I cannot find a dealer locally that has any of the varieties of wood that people seem to be carving. I know I want to work with wood and I have a very capable shop already built. (band saw, table saw, drill press, various grinding and shaping tools). What I don't have is a place to get material and an experienced hand to show me the way. I would love to get some contacts in the area that are carving currently and would be willing to show a nube a few tricks of the trade and where to get supplies from locally. Any help is appreciated and I want to thank all of you as this site is fantastic and the wealth of information that is available here is simply amazing. I look forward to talking to you more on this subject and sharing my development as carver.

Tim Atkinson
 
Tim ask everyone and I mean everyone you know about lumber mills. Problem is looking at lumber yards they are selling construction grade lumber. You will have access to basswood in Iowa at a mill. Look for some Amish or Mennonite's they may have some set aside that is already dry.

the last mill I found was on Craigslist in my area they were selling sycamore and walnut milled to order. I made a call and picked up 800bf of bass a couple weeks later. That or make a drive into Wis or Minn and get some cedar at a private mill, it is out there.

I have not received 100% approval from my boss at home but on April 27th I am hoping to have a day of carving at my place which is just north of KC. I am a mile off of I35 and not tough to find. You are more than welcome to drive down and join us for the day.

I will also invite anyone else here who wishes to attend. will just be some fellas sitting around talking decoys and possibly roughing out some birds.
 
So I've been calling around to all the different lumber mills and I've found basswood that runs about 65 bucks for a 2x8x10ft board. Is that the type of pricing I should be looking (good price or bad price)? Also I have just been asking about cedar, basswood and white pine but basswood is all I have found. Are there other varieties that would work for carving dekes that may be more readily available in Iowa?
 
Any places around your area that salvage old floor joists from deconstructed buildings? I found some 2x10's at the local Old House Restoration Society that were 100 years +. Turned out they were White Pine. They were rough sawn so I planed them down, glued up the size blocks I wanted, cut out the patterns, and they carved like butter.

There are also some sources like The Duck Blind that you can order body & head blocks from to get started, while you look for local sources (theduckblind.com)
 
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That is a horribly high price. That price is for grade A kilned wood at a retail store. Keep looking you might have to do some traveling to get what you want. Calling Willy for a cutout is always a good option too.
 
Tim,

Use the wood finder site to locate sawmills in your area.
Saw mill at Somers Ia was a pretty good place to shop.

http://www.woodfinder.com

Go to the Carver corner archive and get hold of Mike Burt in there.
 
Tim,
You might want to check the internet on Basswood from Wisconsin. I used to live in that state and know that there are lots of Lyndon trees there. One thing that you might want to locate are the small mill operations that will handle things like this. Good luck.
Al
 
Tim, not sure where you are located but i saw a post on the quad cities craigslist under materials of a guy selling lumber from his sawmill. Thought it might help you.
 
I think I may have found what I was looking for. 2 x 8 x 8ft boards of kiln dried, clean western red cedar. Eight bucks a board. A fencing company is where I ended up finding the material.
 
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