Power Tools and Decoy Making

C

Capt. Frank Miller

Active member
How many of you that carve wood decoys use band saws or other power tools to rough out the bodies vs just chopping them with hatchets? If you use power tools over than a band saw to rough out the bodies what do you use?
Thanks,
Frank
 
Frank, power tools do not actually increase the speed of making a decoy, but they take a lot of "elbow grease" out of the project.

You can use power tools from a to z. Bandsaw, Foredom, drill-press for hollowing, air nailer to reassemble, electric sander, and finally an air brush to paint.

Most modern decoy makers use a bandsaw, but if I was to start over, I would rather use a hand axe. Use what ever power tools or hand tools that give you satisfaction.

Decoy making is labor, but for most it is a labor of love!
 
Hey Frank,

I think it boils down to what you have at your disposal. I use the bandsaw, foredom, knifes, and lots of sandpaper. Start with what you have and work your way up from there. Just my 2 cents, but as long as the birds come in, they are doing their job. The proof is in the bag, or the satifaction of seeing your own dekes out on the water.

Leo
 
I tried hand tools on my first few cork birds and it wasn't fun for me. I now use a band saw and foredom and couldn't be happier, if I was to do wood I would look at trying an angle grinder with a saburr grinding disk. I have heard it works slick. One arguement against power tools is tradition. My thought is if any of the old timers on the upper bay had access to a power tools they would have been all over it. There goal was to put out as many decoys as possible and would have taken advantage of any tools that helped. In fact they did, they started producing bodies on lathes. The other arguement against power is dust and they do have a good point. Find what you happy with and go for it there is no right or wrong.
 
I use a bandsaw to cut my blanks. I've monkeyed around starting with a log and a hatchet, and it does work, but I cannot get the accuracy I get when I start from the bandsaw.

As to power carving, I prefer not to use it. I'm not trying to get an argument going but here are my observations as to why I gave it up. I know there are a lot of guys who like to use it and it works well for them. I used to myself.

Loud-I listen to equipment all day at work. Dont need it in the shop.

Dusty- No Explanation needed.

Limited to working in a certain area-I pretty much always have something to carve with me wherever I go, and I set up and carve at a few shows during the summer. With power you are limited buy your extension cord, and it is not conducive to public carving (see dust and noise)

Slow- I've heard it said that power doesn't make you a better carver, but a faster carver, but I think that it doesn't make you either. Properly selected and sharpened hatchets, knives,gouges, skews, spokeshaves, draw knives and rasps will remove wood a LOT faster than power, but a person needs a significant amount of time to learn to keep their stuff sharp (which very few people know how to do) and to use them. Many people simply don't have the time to invest in this.

Last but not least, hand tools are far less money to get started. I tell people when I'm promoting the Institute that $100 will have them on their way to being a decoy maker with tools that will last them a lifetime.

Hatchet $20
Spokeshave $30
Rasp $10
Primary knife $30
Knife with some interchangeable blades $10

Of course a person will want to add to it over time, but this will get decoys carved. Good luck on your decision. Either way, get making some decoys!
 
Find what you're happy with and go for it - there is no right or wrong.
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Good advice. I'd add that as time goes on you'll also master skills with each and probably find yourself relying on both hand & power tools at different stages or for different operations.

Bottom line an excellent bird carved by hand or with power is an excellent bird..... and vice -versa.
 
I use mostly hand tools, because I've been building muzzleloaders for years. Power tools tend to make guns built with them look like they were built with power tools, muzzleloaders built with hand tools look more realistic. I didn't feel like learning new skills using a fordom, when I'm already comfortable with my hand tools. Since there's no real hard lines or ornamental carving on a decoy, it shouldn't matter how you get there. I took a decoy class with Bill Antilla, and I really had to fight my urge to make it a combination of cones and lines that make up a well made long rifle.
 
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