More decoy shop pics...

P

Pat Gregory

Well-known member
Finished up carving a preener scaup. Hollowing a pair of cans the old fashioned way. Also posting up a progression of tools I use on the body. Tools include, great grandpa's drawknife, a handmade Pauly Rutgers spoke shave, standard spokeshave, 18 inch Nicholson half round rasp, 12 inch half round cabinet rasp, a half round rat tail file on the tail and a home made bow sander.

Mike Trudel - Wanted you to see the inside of one of your cans before I sealed them up. I put a Scripture Verse inside ever hollow bird I do. All done by hand with great grandpa's scoop gouge. Keep the chips flying and God bless! Pat
View attachment PICT0212.JPG
View attachment PICT0223.JPG
View attachment PICT0211.JPG
View attachment PICT0214.JPG
View attachment PICT0215.JPG
 
Thanks for the post Pat. I was just wondering what kind of rasps would be useful for wooden decoys. The fact that you've worn off the "Rutgers" brand on that spokeshave just tells us how much wood you've been moving. Nice work!
 
Excellent demo Pat, love the high head can! Are you going to do a demo when you paint those birds? Thanks for posting, I enjoyed it!

Keith
 

Hey Pat,
Are you going to hang out at Pheasant run this year? I've skipped the last few years do to schedule conflicts but I think I may make the run for the fun of it this year. Let me know and I'll try and haul along some Pie and coffee!!

B
 
Jim = My shop ceiling is 10 feet.

David/Charlie and Riley - Thanks for the kind words.

Keith - I appreciate the comments on the can. I will post up some paint pictures...

Brian - I will be at St. Charles and will take you up on the pie and coffee...
 
Thanks for sharing those photos, Pat. What a great hobby you have and then to see those beautiful decoys begin to take shape. Nice workshop.
Al
 
I think I almost like looking at pictures of work in progress as much as I do the finished birds. That shop screams, "Nostalgic". Truly the kind of place a person could sit and drink coffee and talk and make decoys for hours on end. Thanks for sharing.

Mike
 
Pat Nice decoys Brother and the scipture in that decoy john 3:i6 is that the one:- For God so gave the world his only forgoton son and who so ever believeth in him shall not perish. Amen.
take care and God Bless
Eddie.
Its all about Building that Bond
 
I'm glad I know that verse, I would hate to have to tear the decoy apart to receive such critical information (hehe).

Very nice Pat, I look forward to seeing those high heads emerge as the birds ride the chop over my favorite celery patches!
 
I love the high head pose.

I agree that the shop pictures of decoys in progress are just as impressive as the ones of finished rigs. Very nice!
 
Guys - I appreciate the comments about the shop. I do enjoy being out there and having guys stop by. My great grandfather had guys stop by all the time. I welcome the same. If you're ever in Central Illinois, any of you are welcome to stop by. Please do.

Michael Chase, if you're serving in the Armed Forces in Afghanistan, I truly appreciate your service. Pat
 
Pat

I know I've said it before but I really enjoy seeing the shop pics that you and others post. I always look for some little storage idea, new tool, or general layout and these sometimes make it to my own shop. No to mention the decoys are kick butt.

I noticed the bow sander in one pic but have also seen in another pic you have a sand rite pump sander (on my list of cool tools to buy) with two different sized drums. Obviously the sand rite will take wood quickly but are there some areas of a decoy it just won't reach so you have to use the bowsander? Or is it a matter of sometimes you like the hand work versus machine work?
 
Pat: That's what I'm doing. Here's a pic of me and my Terp talking to one of the local government officials. He's been a real pleasure to work with. Aside from all of our cultural, religious, and language differences, the average Afghan is one of the most hospitable, charitable and gracious person you will ever meet. It's a shame that they have been abused and victimized by conquerers, zealots and thugs for ages.

View attachment DAIL Meeting.JPG

I don't want to hijack your thread, so that's enough of that.

I come here and look around on my off time and have even worked on some decoys (mainly heads but the full cut out that John Lawrence sent me). It's how I blow off stress and it makes me feel at home. I brought a few knives and gouges with me and have even found some decent wood in an old mine roller shipping crate that I think is cedar. I talked to my Dad today and he said that he sent me my drawknife about a week ago, so I should be getting it any day. He's also sending me a coping saw so I can cut out some more heads from the wood I found. Here are some pics of the wood and my head pattern that I came up with. If you look closely, you'll see Keith Mueller's book too. I brought that too for inspiration.

View attachment Mallard head layout web.jpg View attachment White Cedar.jpg [/code]
 
Last edited:
Mike,

Just left the Post Office to drop off a nation building kit. Pure suger for the kids. Hope it helps. Post up what ever you need. There are some very generious people here.Where is FOB Guardez? Be well. Thank you foryour service.

Phil
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top