Wood for decoy heads

S

Scott Gilliland

Active member
I hoping to carve a few heads for decoys. I have a good source of eastern white pine and I'm wondering what qualities I should look for. I can get the boards in rough sawn 2" and 3". I think the 2" is will work. If I have an option should I select quarter sawn or flat sawn? For growth rings should they be tight or wide?
Thanks
Scott
 
Quarter or flat sawn will be fine as long as the grain direction is as parallel as possible to bill direction unless you make long necks and would need to have two separate pieces; one for the neck and one for the head.

Do you have a head pattern you are wanting to use? Use that to determine the width of board you need.
 
I'm hoping to make a small ringneck set to start. I have a bunch of old herters with broken heads that I plan to convert from scoters/eiders to ringnecks. The head pattern I have is ~2" wide and I think the 2" pine will work. If the board is quarter sawn I'm guessing the neck might be a weak point. This could be strengthened with a dowel. My thought is flat sawn where the grain runs as vertical might be stronger.

Thanks
Scott
 
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