Sick of plastic - need direction

C

cam

New member
I haven't posted on this forum yet but have been following some of the threads, great topics and information. Also happy to know there is a group of hunters who realize not all ducks eat corn.

I am up in Manitoba and spend much of my time chasing divers on big water. Figure its time I kick it up a notch and have a go at carving a few working cork dekes. Information on this is scant up here so I am hoping some of you can point me in the right direction to get started. I am a little late for this year as the divers have just started stacking up - but would love to have a few of my own creations floating next fall.

Any recomendations on resources, online or printed material? I am looking for basic patterns for carving cans, redheads, scaup and ring necks. I haven't been able to find much on-line.
Without breaking the bank what does a guy need for tools to get started? Type of paint?

Any information is greatly appreciated.

Cam
 
Will be heading your way in three days...Actually hunting west of you in Strathclair....

Pat Godin has three of four books that are still published which have excellent pattern based on the anatomy of the bird...

theduckblind.com would be website to visit to get you started...There are many great carvers on this sight to get you going all you have to do is ask the question....

Regards,

Kristan
 
You should have a fantastic trip lots of poultry. Hope the weather changes for you, we're breaking temp records every day. Still hunting in a t-shirt.

Thanks for the info.
 
Cam

Welcome!

I'd recommend getting your hands on Grayson Chessers book, Making Decoys the Century Old Way, and Keith Mueller's book, The Art of Making Decoys. One is the bare bones of making gunning stool, the other will inspire and instruct you when you are ready to take your carving to the next level. Both of these contain patterns, again, the first is your basic shapes, the latter is more refined. Another book I use quite a bit for diver patterns specifically is Bruce Burke's Decoy Carvers Portfolio (I think it is volume 1 that is all divers, or maybe 2, it is in the garage right now), patterns are more detailed than you need for cork gunners, but it is easy to round off the edges to a nice gunner pattern. Also has a variety of head patterns and nice color plates for painting.

Getting cork might be a stumbling point, price wise. I'm sure Willy can help, but I'm afraid duty on top of shipping may break the deal. Maybe you can find a source in Canada, as all cork is imported to North America, mostly from Portigal, so Willy's (and any other US source) already has US duty incorperated into the price. Maybe one of your Canadian bretheren will pipe up with some info on that.

Tools, need a bandsaw (or access to one), idealy to cut at least 8" thick (side profiles), otherwise you can start shaping with a rasp and a hobby knife to get the idea if you like it, and if you want to spend money on more refined hand tools or go with a Fordom type tool.

Like Special K said, fire away with specific questions...

Best
Chuck
 
Cam, look at www.workingdecoys.net join up& they have tons of arcives. On their forum they have threads on wood, cork, foam carved, foam cast& canvas decoys. They have threads on painting, tools, paterns, photos of live birds to get shapes of& many more. Good luck on your new addictive hobby! ;^)
Dennis
 
Cam when you want them to ship cork to you in Canada have them mark the paper work as a sample with a value of say $10. this will avoid some duty and problems getting it across the border. Ever since NAFTA it is harder than ever to get stuff across the border.
 
Cam when you want them to ship cork to you in Canada have them mark the paper work as a sample with a value of say $10. this will avoid some duty and problems getting it across the border. Ever since NAFTA it is harder than ever to get stuff across the border.
Click to expand...


North
America
Fee and
Tariff
Agreement
 
Welcome to the forum cam. Tools for cork are a little simpler than those you'd use for wood. I shape mine with a hand saw, rasp, file, and sandpaper. A bandsaw is great for cutting out thicker wood stock, such as 2 to 3 inch thick wood for the heads. But the cork itself can be cut with a hand saw. If you use a thin bottom board on the cork, that can be cut with a jig saw. If you're using black cork, you'll probably want some kind of filler to fill in the voids. I use plastic wood, but there are other materials out there. Then of course, you'll need some glue too. I use Gorilla Glue if there are big gaps to fill. Otherwise I'll use Titebond.

I used Eugene Connett's book "Duck Decoys" when I got started in carving. He shows simple, sturdy construction techniques.

Here's a post I did a few years back on a cork scoter I made:

http://www.duckhuntingchat.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=57504
 
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Cam, send me a sase-----
george williams
14 glenwood dr.
dover, de., 19904
fairly large envelope--will send you diver patterns and some info.. if you contact me at
gwdecoys@verizon.net, i also have paint schedules for those species.
Basically, chapters on color for decoys from a yet unpublished book.
There is a cork company on your sife of the border jelenik--outside niagara falls--You probably will have to hollow the material, as it has always been a mite on the dense side.
Tools have a tendancy to accumulate, but you can start with rasps, some drum rasps for drills Acces to a bandsaw is a great asset.
 
I sure do appreciate all the information. I am armed with just enough to be dangerous.
I will be contacting some of you for more specific info. and once the weapons are hung up in December be posting for carving advice on a regular basis.

Thanks again

Cam
 
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