March workbench thread.

[Kevin Puls]

Kevin, glad some of my babbleing made sense two weekends ago,
Regards.

Loud and clear George!

 

[Kevin Puls]

Kevin...Always "paint while you carve" and you'll run into less of these problems.

If I get your meaning, to paint parts while carving, that would be hard to do on burlaped foam decoys.

Actually, the burlaped foam is easy to do but I am finding two major drawbacks.

1. Mastic takes a long time to dry so I have long waiting periods between steps.

2. Burlap limits my texturing options.

3. Once it is carved and coated I cannot make changes to it such as resolving the chest, lengthening or removing pockets. I can't make the head to body transition like I would be able to with wood or cork.

Ok, I found three.

But honestly due to resources I plan to continue working with foam this year and look forward to transitioning to cork in the future.

In the end, they will attract ducks. They are very similar to a herters decoy and they have worked well for a lot of folks for a lot of years.

 

[Kevin Puls]

Thanks Steve for the tips on the shoulders. I like those sides. Sadly I am way too OCD to make the last couple of canvasbacks significantly different than the others. But my next set, Redheads will incorporate a lot of these changes.

Good morning, Kevin~

That Can looks sweet! You are moving right along.

I like carving in the side pockets (roll out) because it helps me when painting - I do not need to re-draw. Remember that they are generally lower (closer to the waterline) up forward then raise up as they move aft. On divers - especially pochards - they wrap up over the back a bit - at least when the bird is at rest. In foam or cork birds, a coarse riffler is nice for this job.

Here is a hollow pine Sleeper I just finished in oils. And, I just this morning cut the side pockets into a Wigeon I am working on.

All the best,

SJS

 

[Matt DeFore]

You don't get my meaning, one day you will though if you stick with it.

 

[Colin Fitzpatrick]

Thanks Chad! My first "rig" of my own decoys didnt quite turn out how I wanted but I am definitley looking foward to sitting over my own decoys next fall

 

[Kevin Puls]

You don't get my meaning, one day you will though if you stick with it.

Ahhh.. Metaphorical, hence the quotes. I read that too early in the morning for my brain to work.

Thanks.

 

[Jim Chamberlin]

Its spring time and the turkeys are a gobbling.

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Spalted Pecan

 

[Lloyd Heins]

Got side tracked and started working on this guy. Trying to fix the side pockets and bill. I'll move the head up 1/4" or so.
Thanks for lookin'

 

[David Rearick]

Great work everyone. Once we get out of this cold snap I hope to get down to the garage myself for a little dust making.

 

[Steve Sutton]

Frank.....don't know how I missed those Turkeys you posted...I saw the hen and poults you posted but not the next two...OUTSTANDING....Love em.....


Steve

 

[frank middleton]

Thanks Steve!
Just finishing some wood ducks! And I have a request for some older poults.
I'll try and post some more soon.

 

[Darin Clark]

A couple of girls to add to the diver rig

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[TimJ]

Great month everyone! I really enjoy opening this thread up every time I see it come back up to the top.

Tim

 

[Jeffrey Nelson]

My little man surprised me today. He did it mostly by himself, and I must say he was pretty proud of himself. I might be a little proud too. We might have a future carver here....

 

[Capt Rich Geminski]

Jeff, Really like the pics. Looks like he is enjoying himself. Put that bird away. After my father in law passed we were cleaning out the house and found his first and second birds wrapped in towels in the back of a cabinet. He started in the 60's and was self taught and never hunted. He carved thousands of birds and shorebirds. He liked 1/2 sized ducks and full sized shorebirds.
Save that bird for the future...

 

[Jeffrey Nelson]

Capt. Rich, I will make sure his bird gets saved. I know one day in the future he will look at it and smile. I'm sorry for your father in law, but I think it's great that you have his first birds. I'm sure they are miles away from what he was doing at the end of his career, but I would guess those are the ones he cherished most.
Thanks for taking the time to comment, Jeff

 

[Steve Sanford]

Kevin & all~

I guess W is my theme right now - I am currently at work on a Wigeon, a Whimbrel and a Wood Duck...all "mantel-piece birds".

The first two are primed - with 2 coats of spar varnish then grey high-build oil primer - and ready for oils starting tomorrow. I just put the eyes in the Woodie - the head will go on tomorrow.

This Drake Wigeon is hollow White Pine with a Basswood head.

This Whimbrel is solid Basswood with a Shagbark Hickory (limb wood grown to the curve) bill insert.

All the best,

SJS

 

[Jon Yenulonis]

Beautiful work Steve, but shouldn't you have started an "April Workbench" thread? After all isn't today April 2nd?


Just funnin with ya!


Jon

 

[Steve Sanford]

Jon~

Will do!

Funny, though. I initially file all of my photos by month. So, I started an April 2015 folder just for these photos - but the lightbulb never went on in my old brain.

Thanks for looking after me!

SJS