Sealing cork

Mike Repp

Mike Repp

Well-known member
A friend of mine has some cork goose decoys pretty old, he doesnt use them because they soak up water. He has had them stored in the rafters of his garage for years. What should he use top seal them?
 
To really seal them well he's going to have to repaint them. I assume the are black cork.

I would clean them up and hit them with some sand paper. Then do at least one layer of titebond II or III waterproof woodglue mixed with cork dust or saw dust. It will fill some of the voids and make a good hard waterproof shell on the decoy. Sand after it dries and do another coat.

Now you can seal with a number of things. Val oil, spar varnish, GAC 700, Jansens cork sealer. It would depend on what kind of paint you are going to use.

I like Goldens heavy body matte acrylics. I would use a few layers of Gac 700 to seal the coating. Then paint away.

The rougher the finish you leave the more pain it will take.

Good luck with your project.

-D
 
Thanks Dave, they're Herters that he bought about 20 yrs ago. I'm trying to talk him out of them. Maybe if I told him there was no hope of salvaging them mmmm? what do ya think?
 
I'd take and sell them piecemeal at a decoy show..maybe keep a couple for the mantel...and buy some new dekes to use
 
herters cork goose i think i would have to keep could not bring my self to sell them :)



I seal my black cork decoys with Concrete seal you by at home depot it says for wood and cork to. works really well I ust brush it on heavy let dry and repeat then paint. actual does better on black then the tan cork for me
 
Thanks for all the help guys. Nice to know about the different methods and products that will work. Yea he doesnt want to sell them so I'll just pass the info on to him.
 
What I was getting at was...re-painting would ruin any collector value..however small right now..but I see these old Herters cork dekes sell for pretty good chunks of change. If they must be re painted, I think I'd get a qt of FME black and qt of FME white from Lou..thin a first coat to get into all the nooks and crannies..then a couple 100% coats to top them off. A light sanding to begin with to get the dirt off them...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top