What's on your workbench September 2021


Very appropriate...

That's a lotta carving "labor", on Labor Day. Dats for sure.

Looks like the decoy carving hook is set pretty deep, and yer runnin' full tilt with the energy & passion.

Yer doin' a wonderful job of keeping the tradition going.


Two thumbs way up!


Best regards
Vince
 
Patrick~


Spectacular work as always!


I can report progress From the Bench of George Williams:


View attachment GWilliams - Wigeon in paint.jpg



He calls this batch "Cans with Robbers":


View attachment GWilliams - Cans and Robbers.jpg



I have been "otherwise engaged" - as busy as I can recall but all NDR stuff. Just completed the shiplap pine paneling and trim in our family camp - built on Lake Champlain by Susan's Dad in 1954. The pine has been stained with Minwax Natural (a clear oil). Experience elsewhere in the camp shows that it will develop a nice patina within a few years. I made the clerestory windows last Summer.



View attachment Lake Wall 1.jpg



BTW: The rafters will stay open because we insulated above the roof - with foam beneath the tin.



All the best,


SJS

 
steve, fyi, the head on that lower headed can was salvaged from the Northern State Parkway, when they went to metal. Nice repurposing, eh?
 
Good morning, George~


Lots of the LI Parkway guard rails - Western Red Cedar back in the day - were salvaged (with or without proper authorization...) for decoys. Many brought batches to Al McCormick for his heads.



I made this confidence decoy from "Parkway Cedar".....circa 1981.


View attachment Herring Gull 1981.jpg





All the best,


SJS

 
I have so much started, but have little finished. Work/life have been very busy! In July, my first Grandson was born,

Johannes Friedrich Ammerlaan arrived a big, strong, healthy 9lb 9oz


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Then a week later, we found out that grandchild #2, would also be a boy.....

Samuel Wise Diefenderfer, due late November....



View attachment IMG_5723[1].jpg

So I will have a couple new hunting buddies!

Finally, after cancelling vacation 2 previous times this Summer due to work conflicts, I got a week off... and did not do much but soak in the pool and relax.
I did manage to work on some heads to fill an order, and some decoys for myself.



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The sleepers are E Allens that I got with a truckload of decoys, heads, molds and parts a year ago. They were originally poorly airbrush painted as Bluebills, but were closer in size to my Buffies and while a little heavy, are a good match..

I have dozens in process, but progress is slow.....
 
Funny you should suggest that Rich..... some 30+ years ago, Daisy made 22s for a very short time. Apparently they were not in total compliance with the ATF and that effort was aborted quickly. However at that time, a friend had his FFL and suggested we get some for our very young children. So I bought 2 single shot 22s, took them apart, cleaned and lubed them and put them back in original boxes and taped them shut with the intent of giving them to them at an appropriate age. They still sit in the back of my closet, still in the box, never shot. When ever we went shooting we used my guns and never opened them. Now they will be for their sons!
 
I'll have to check the model numbers, and serial numbers, I think they are consecutive..... will report back tonight. For some reason I think the FFL cost on these was like $49 each? Maybe Dick will remember, or can check his records.
 
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As usual had grand aspirations for the 2021 rig but life got in the way. Here are three ready for opening day next Saturday. These are the last 3 decoys carved at our first house. After an exhaustive house hunt in a very competitive market we settled into our new place on the lake a couple weeks back. The new house doesn't have my dream shop (yet), but feel very lucky to have an amazing spot to float my decoys and watch fowl.
 
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So I took a look last night, I don't have consecutive serial numbers. The oil has dried up and gummed over the past 30 years, so I could not work the action. One has a tool for breaking down the gun, the other does not, and one has an accessories pamphlet. So not as pristine as I thought/hoped/remembered. Still never shot, and like new. I will let my kids decide if their kids will shot them, or we sell them and get something else, or just keep them boxed and let them age some more.
 
In addition to the completed one that I posted last month, I've had a the painting of second deadmount carving of a bufflehead going.
I had been working on painting it in fits & starts from time to time.

This week I finally had time to finish it up, and take these pictures of it laying on the studio floor. I'm going to set this one aside until I complete another diver to hang with it.



View attachment IMGP6978 (3).JPG View attachment IMGP6982 (2).JPG




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