What's on your WORK BENCH - DECEMBER 2020

Steve Sanford

Steve Sanford

Well-known member
Good morning, All~


My work bench has been getting plenty of use of late - as has The Bench of George Williams....


His Hen Sprig just needs some ballast on her keel.


View attachment GW - Pintail Hen.jpg



And, Pencil Brook Decoy Infirmary has just discharged a number of patients....


View attachment Thanksgiving Batch - Higgins 1, Hilliard 4, Waverider 6.JPG



The Black probably had experienced a Humpty-Dumpty-like episode - but HIPPA won't let me divulge the medical history....


View attachment Higgins Black Duck in need of repair - KHarington.JPG



It spent one overnight in traction.


View attachment Higgins Black Duck in traction.JPG



It is once again ready-to-hunt. This nice decoy was carved in Eliot, Maine, by Jim Higgins - who does business as Sneakbox Decoys.


http://sneakboxdecoy.com/



View attachment Higgins Black Duck - done FULL.JPG



I took the liberty of reassigning its gender - she is now a he.


View attachment Higgins Black Duck - done FWD.JPG



Just as I had never held a Higgins decoy, neither had I held - and certainly not rehabbed - and birds from PK Hilliard.


View attachment Kim Smith Mallards BEFORE.JPG



The decoys have modified Herter's Model 72 heads on white (tan) cork bodies. The owner had reinforced the plywood tail inserts with a heavy epoxy. So, I just refastened a couple of the heads, sealed everything with spar varnish, then re-painted.


View attachment Kim Smith - Hilliard Drake - head detail.JPG



The heads had flecking burned into them. Some - like this Hen - had the necks shortened.


View attachment Kim Smith - Hilliard Hen - head detail.JPG



I did not remove any of the heads - so I do not know how they were fastened. I presume the modified heads were somehow filled to receive screw threads.



I enjoy playing around with different paint motifs to suggest the mottling on the Hens.


View attachment Kim Smith - Hilliard Mallard Hen - aft detail.JPG



Continued.....


SJS



 
I believe PK Hilliard & Sons were somewhere in New Jersey. Does anyone have more info - on their location and years of business?


This time of year, the paint gets to cure in front of the stove for a day or so.



View attachment Kim Smith Mallard pair - on floor.JPG



They are now allowed to play outside.


View attachment Kim Smith - Hilliard Foursome.JPG



The other "new-to-me" batch was these Waverider Decoys.


View attachment Brian Garman Mallards BEFORE.JPG



They were in very good condition. Their heads were made to be movable - and a large nylon disc was placed between the head and the body. The heads have brass inserts to receive a long steel screw. I decided to remove 4 of the heads so I could secure the heads more permanently. I discarded the nylon washers and bedded the heads in caulk. I like heads with different positions but have always found turnable heads to be a problem in the field. They often get loose and frequently allow the anchor line to jam between the head and body.


The tails were Masonite and getting a bit soft. I saturated each with epoxy then sprinkled fine sawdust on them. The sawdust makes it easier to sand after curing and provides nice tooth for the paint.



View attachment Brian Garman Mallards - refastened and epoxy-sealed.JPG



These birds were: 1) sealed with Spar Varnish, 2) primed with flat oils, then 3) top-coated with Behr latex.


View attachment Garman Mallards.JPG



I believe Waveriders were made in North Dakota (owned by Visser & Bonn) and maybe sold through Cabela's? Does anyone have more info?


View attachment Garman Mallards DONE sides.JPG



The Mallard Goodness is baked right in....


View attachment Garman Mallards DONE backs.JPG



They are now earning their keep up in the Green Mountain State.


View attachment Garman Waverider Mallards DONE pair outside.JPG



All the best,


SJS











 
Hi Steve,
To answer your question regarding PK Hilliard, he is the son of Pop Hilliard who taught him and that is where the son comes into play. He is old school bayman that lives and breaths the meadows he lives on still affording his living clamming, fishing and making stools. He is from Pleasantville and still makes decoys today. I've travelled down with my Pop to gun with him over the years. I have built several pond boxes with his input on design.
As always your work is beautiful Steve!
Tom
 
Steve,

I think the Black Duck head repair is compression not traction. Nice decoy and nice work.

Joe
 
Joe~


Because of Hurricane Covid, the ICU here is staffed with a bunch of over-the-hill types. Management has to cut them some slack on the nomenclature!


All the best,


SJS

 
Nice save on that Jim Higgins black duck! I have four of his black ducks and two mallards that came to me as birthday presents over a several year period.
 
Jeff~


I have been corresponding with Jim. I sent him some photos of the repair - and my compliments for his very nice gunning stool.


All the best,


SJS

 
Steve. P.K. Hilliard is usually set up at the Tuckerton Show in September. He was set up down by the tents last year. Hs usually wandering around shooting the S&%$ all over the park. Im sure you would recognize him if you saw him.
 
Thanks, Dave!


Let's all hope we can enjoy Tuckerton next September. I will be ready with a boat or two, bunches of decoys - and who know what all else. I will be sure to hunt up PK.


All the best,


SJS

 
Yes "hacky" PK is still making gunning stools right outside of Atlantic city.
He is pretty active on Facebook if you want to talk to him about his process. He's quite the character.
 
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