How to Repair Burlap Decoy

[Cody Foster]

I have this decoy, which appears to be a Restle body, with some dents through the burlap and missing burlap.

What is the best/easiest way to repair this so I can put it back in service this season?

I don’t have any experience with burlap. The few foam decoys I have rehabbed were restle coated.

 

[roy brewington]

Simply sand area a bit to include area around damaged area . Apply mastic and burlap. Fill the weave on the burlap good with mastic. Let dry completely, prime & paint. This is assuming you don,t have to build up foam to proper contour in damaged area. Can,t really tell from pic.

 

[Steve Sanford]

I have this decoy, which appears to be a Restle body, with some dents through the burlap and missing burlap.

What is the best/easiest way to repair this so I can put it back in service this season?

I don’t have any experience with burlap. The few foam decoys I have rehabbed were restle coated. View attachment 66677View attachment 66678View attachment 66679View attachment 66680

Cody~

Roy is right on the money. Use open-weave burlap and tile mastic. I have not burlapped lots of birds (I actually hope I have done my last....) - but I have always wet the burlap before embedding it in the mastic. I force the mastic into the weave with both a chip brush and my gloved hands.

Elsewhere on the body you could fill the small dings with Bondo or a good exterior "spackle".

Since you a rehabbing this decoy, I suggest you dress up his paint a little bit. The proportions of the major paint areas are a bit off, to my eye. So, I would "move" some of the colors around thus:



Hope this helps!

SJS