November Workbench thread

[Steve Sanford]

I have carved NO decoys during September or October - because I've been building a duckboat (and occasionally shooting some ducks and geese). I did, however, carve this bow handle:

It's my first White-Wing Scoter (except for a rig of plywood "coot shadows" I made about 30 years ago). I carved it from a piece of treated SYP (2x4), sealed it with epoxy, and screwed it into the deck framing with a thickened epoxy base.

The handle is attached to a 2-man layout boat - built for the waters around Long Island. I'll post a full series on the build after sea trials next week - unless she sinks or turns turtle....

All the best,

SJS

 

[Geoff Vine]

Looks great Steve. I envy you and your wonderful shop.

Here's a hen Pintail. Hollow cedar body body, jelutong head, oil paint. Flat bottom has a pad weight...

 

[Brad Bortner]

Geoff your painting is just so sublime, looks so simple and clean, but its obvious you work hard to make it look that way. Great job.

 

[Steve Sanford]

Geoff~

I get a great big smile every time I see your paint work - just what kind of computer-controlled machine do you use?!? Really spectacular stuff! And the posture and proportions on that Hen are sublime - really graceful and feminine.

All the best,

SJS

 

[Al Hansen]

What a marvelous idea for your boat, Steve.
Al

 

[Al Hansen]

Brad said it so well. Your hen pintail is simplistic and absolutely gorgeous. I love the flow it presents. Beautifully done.
Al

 

[MLBob Furia]

Steve,

What an original idea! That 's very unique and a great "personal" touch for that boat.

 

[Chuck J]

Playing oversized Jenga here:

Or maybe I'm just cut out a bunch of keels...

 

[TimJ]

Steve,
That reminds me of a classic 1930s hood ornament. Very cool idea.

Geoff,
Elegant decoy, i always enjoy seeing your work.

Tim

 

[Steve Sanford]

Thanks, Tim~

I am definitely in the "Art Deco" mode when drawing/carving these.

All the best,

SJS

 

[Phil Eager]

Steve, very cool!

Phil

BTW Mr. Vine's hen pintail super clean paint job,

 

[MLBob Furia]

Thanks, Tim~

I am definitely in the "Art Deco" mode when drawing/carving these.

All the best,

SJS

NO, Steve, You're most definitely in the "ART - DUCK-O" mode there!

 

[Chris Finch]

i wanna be just like Chuck, lol.

they are crossmembers for scoter sleds, i have the hankerin for some ocean hunting....

 

[Charles H.]

This will be a hen mallard to match the Drake that is currently traveling around PA. Basswood head, cork, and pine tail and bottom.

A bluebill to add to the sleepers I was working on last month.

These are my first attempts at woodducks and my first attempt at hollow cedar.

Drake

Hen

Pair

 

[Phil Eager]

Geoff..... I've been trying to figure out who ur painting style reminds me of ? I'm thinking Charlie Joiner with a little bit of Ward brothers..

Steve.... If you ever decide to to cast them out of Brass or bronze I'll take 3 How did you run the grain so it would not break . i know you said epoxy... but is that enough without reinforcement?


Phil

 

[Steve Sanford]

Phil~

Wouldn't bronze be great???

These handles are fastened with either screws or bolts (whenever I can reach below to fasten a nut and washer) through both the forward section and the tail section - so the fasteners take the strain - I hope. The first 2 (a Black Duck and a Canvasback - and now this Scoter) have stood up well under field use for several seasons.

All the best,

SJS

 

[Dani]

Steve....can you post pictures of the other handles? that scoter looks great and i'd love to see the others

Dani

 

[Steve Sanford]

Dani~

Here you go:

Black Duck on my 13' decked-over canoe Sweet Gherkin. The tail section curls right on down to the deck because I tied the thatch rails into the design.

Canvasback on my "customized" 16' Mohawk canoe Canvasback:

With both of these I was able to "bolt" them through the decks with flathead SS machine screws and back them up with fender washers and nuts. They were bedded in 3M 5200 (whereas the Scoter was bedded in thickened epoxy).

All the best,

SJS

 

[Tom Modin]

those handles are fantastic. Truly top-notch craftsmanship

 

[Phil Eager]

bronze works. like the black duck but the scotter catches me eye..very cool. most people have no idea what we do as far as there concerned ..... we wake them up early on saturdays. most people dont understand we live ducks 24/7 365 one of these days Ill figure out pot pics.

Phil