E Allen Decoy Project

Denny R

Denny R

Member
I'm redoing about 5 dozen E Allen decoys.
The decoys are about 10 years old and the paint adherence has been really good. I've taken good care of them so YMMV. The bills all have nails and carbon arrow shafts so they've held up well too.
I'm re-keeling with composite decking, adding glass eyes, trestle coating and painting with Golden paint.
Super time consuming and I'm sure many of you can hand carve new decoys much, much faster. But, I've got the E Allens and was ready for a change.
Process is constantly changing but involves sanding, lacquer thinner, cork dust, Titebond, spar varnish and recently West Epoxy.

Time will tell but they appear to be bombproof. We'll see how they do in the water this fall. My divers decoys can be out several days in a row.

The cans are done. The redheads are trestle coated and re-keeled. The bluebills are waiting their turn.

denny

View attachment Decoy1.jpg


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I have e. allens that I painted in '99 that are still going strong. Many have taken a few pellets, and they've definitely been through their share of rough boat rides and tough treatment.

I love to see these decoys getting a refit. One of these days I might have to redo mine.

Keep the pics coming.

-D
 
Moving forward you may want to omit the Trestle coating on the bills of the birds. Those Scaup are big, are they the giants?
 
I am thinking you just like the coating as a personal choice...my E. Allens can withstand about anything without it.

Now LOU's E. Allens were put to the Scott O. "non-toxic test" one day on Lake St. Clair...a little inadvertently but hey, when the buffies go swoopin' down into the decoys, ya gotta shoot at 'em...right?

Sorry Lou...I have to get those from you some day and patch 'em up

:)
 
My E Allens had too much sheen/reflection for me. I never thought the divers cared but I had quit using the puddle duck E Allens on sunny days.

I may be wrong but I was ready for a change.

On my driveway, in bright sun, the difference in the sheen/reflection is not subtle.
Maybe I did something wrong with the original finish.

Paint durability was not an issue. Sanding barely takes the paint off.

The bill fragility of my vintage of E Allens is well known. After breaking several with minimal force the carbon arrow shafts alleviated that problem. The trestle coat on the bill is extra insurance.


denny
 
Denny, what are you using for paint? If acrylics, go with something matte, leke eigher Golden or Jantzen.
 
George,
I've got about a dozen of your decoys. I'm using Golden Matte acrylics and trying to paint like you.
I won't be successful but I'll keep trying.

Denny
 
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