Hollowing decoys by hand...

P

Pat Gregory

Well-known member
There is something soothing about hollowing decoys by hand. I hate the mess of a drill press. Am hollowing this preening scaup with my great grandad's scoop gouge. Keep it sharp, it hogs the wood out. He forged it himself spinning the handle similar to the barrel of his duck calls. A pair of cans up next. Also slipped in a cork scaup this morning as well...

Waiting for this weather to break for the snows/blues to come up this way...
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Neat to use Grandad's stuff!! What the heck are you hollowing out with the ax and 8 pound sledge!!!!!!!
Jim/Fowlfishing
 
Pat, In the first picture...Is that about how thick you leave the block?? I am new to this whole decoy carving world and was just wondering. I think it is great that you have working tools from your grandpa and have carried on the family traditions. Always love your work.
 
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David - I feel very privileged to have my great grandpa's tools. I use his drawknife on ever wooden decoy I carve. That scoop gouge hollowed at least 2,000 decoys by his hand...

Jim - Never know when you're going to hit a knot... :)

David - 25 years has taught me that dust is the enemy. Avoid it at all costs. Hand tools promote craftsmenship...

Charlie - If I hollow before I carve the block, I generally leave my side walls about 3/4 of inch so I don't carve through it. If I hollow after I carve the block, I've got them down to 1/4 of an inch. A scoop gouge is excellent for that.

Thanks guys for the kind words... Good to be back into the swing of things...
 
Charlie, the whole thing about making your own dekes is it's all personal preference. Thicker walls are obviously more durable, but also heavier. You probably want to maintain at least 1/2" but 3/4" is pretty good. sometimes you mis-judge when hollowing and poke a hole thru the top. when you are done cursing to make a sailor blush, you go into your cut-off bin and cut/fit/epoxy in a plug. Oh, don't throw out any "scrap" that looks remotely useable. Plugs/patches/spacers/keels, you always check your bin of small stuff before hacking into a prime chunk.
 
Hello Pat, You make it look so easy. You have an incredible talent. I am totally overwelmed with all the talent on this site. I have always loved your decoys.

Gary March
 
Pat, that is really neat. I like to use hollow with a spoon gouge sometimes too. Something to be said for the sound of sharp tools slicing wood. I still have some patterns my grandfather use for Illinois River decoys in the 30's. I was raised in Beardstown...where do you live?
 
Tom - Was born and raised in Joliet but my great grandad was from Princeton. My home is in Bloomington and our duck club is north of Havana near Manito. We border the north levee of Chautauqua NWR and Goofy Ridge...
 
Pat, I know the area that you hunt. It does not get much better. I make it back to Beardstown each year, and most of my friends hunt out in the Sangamon Bottoms or near Browning. But as you know the Mallards are everywhere back there......
 
Tom - My hunting partner hunted Treadway for years... I'm gonna be posting some Illinois River history stuff for guys to enjoy. Just posted a piece on Virgil Lashbrook. Ever do anything from your grandpa's patterns anymore? Maybe we should swap a pair of good old Illinois River gunners. What's your favorite species?
 
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Jim - I have a wood vise wide enough for my puddle ducks and teal. My divers I have to use wood clamps to clamp it to the bench. My wood vise is not wide enough for my divers...
 
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