Jump to content
  • GUESTS

    If You  want access  to member only forums on FM, You will need to Sign-in or  Sign-Up now .

    This box will disappear once you are signed in as a member.

Novice decoy carver needs help


chad austin

Recommended Posts

I'm working on a natrual sucker with brass fins now the lines will be cut in on the anvil with a cold chisel to leave a clean look the brass polished up with a mirror finish. I just got some sheet brass, copper and alumium.

your decoy would have looked great natrual too, I had a hard time painting over the burn detail. I'll take a pic of the sucker tonight.

P5251180-1.jpg

cool

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Replies 110
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Top Posters In This Topic

  • jasonmichalski

    25

  • chad austin

    20

  • merkman

    13

  • Laska

    10

Alright,

I have been kicking around the idea for a while but have never started, after reading this thread I actually started to carve my first decoy.

Here is the progress so far (ie here's my pickle smile ).

I might "cheat", grab some beer and head over to a mentors house for help with the fins, weighting, and swimming.

So far the "pro" carvers have nothing to worry about... smile

8026641502_4af048f069_z.jpg

8026637858_80b054fd87_z.jpg

8026634276_70f527d9e4_z.jpg

8026632405_efd02b7f73_z.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Looking great, Merk! Now once you spear your first fish on that bad boy it will be game over. Be ready to block out several hours a week to carve more decoys wink

Link to comment
Share on other sites

its really not bad it takes time. try to cut the shape in one cut for each side and leave it a little bigger so its easier to carve smooth and keep adding center lines as you cavre it make it easier. I draw out each step on the blank before I cut, carve, and paint.

6945016373_41ec47a54a.jpg

P3011189 by jasonmichalski, on Flickr

6798904326_aee434309a.jpg

P3011194 by jasonmichalski, on Flickr

6714647233_31eb09a54f.jpg

P1131180 by jasonmichalski, on Flickr

the decoy on the left is what got me started its about 100 years old from the market days on the Saginaw Bay used for walleye and perch, but pike come in to it too, I draw a scele copy I used as a base pattern for my frist decoys.

6714647219_13ab4966c6.jpg

P1131179 by jasonmichalski, on Flickr

your start looks alot like mine did but my third decoy I had it down.

6714681735_57733553e9.jpg

P1131202 by jasonmichalski, on Flickr

just have fun make decoys your way.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Jason,

What did you use for an exhaust fan in your paint booth? I am re-roofing my house this weekend and I am also wondering if I should exhaust out the roof or an exterior wall.

Thanks again.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

We have a website with our info. Absolutely come to our meetings we look forward to having guests.

If you want to try spearing out before you invest in equipment there are a bunch of us on this site that would borrow you some so you can try it out. Every second Sunday ECMDAA is going to have a spearing event on a local lake. Like I said earlier my house is available to anyone on the site when im not using it. Archerysniper might even have the hole opened up for you. laugh

Yep it should be open and I'm started my 4x8 center hole today after falling in love with Dealers house last winter.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Jason,

What did you use for an exhaust fan in your paint booth? I am re-roofing my house this weekend and I am also wondering if I should exhaust out the roof or an exterior wall.

Thanks again.

In the pic Its backed up to a big paint vent fan and goes out the roof. I was at my dads because I stay there sometimes when I work out of town. I blocked up 3/4 of the vent. At home I took and framed a window in my walkout basement because my house is a few years old and didn't want to make holes. The booth has a filter and a vent pipe hooks into the bottom center and goes to a caged fan and out thought a flapper covered vent in the center of the framed in window, and I crack up a window on the other side of room for in comming air.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

[Note from admin: Your post has been edited. Please read forum policy before posting again. Thank you.]

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I am now able to get back to the garage being I re-roofed my house last Thursday & Friday and cleaned out the rest of the garage and both sheds and the rest of the honey-do-list. My son and I should be back in business by the weekend.

Jason, I just bought the same woodburner as you for $60 with 4 pens to boot. How do you like yours? Have you used it much?(I think I recall you saying you just got yours as well)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Jason, I just bought the same woodburner as you for $60 with 4 pens to boot. How do you like yours? Have you used it much?(I think I recall you saying you just got yours as well)

I scaled and detailed 4 decoys with it and I love it. its easy to make pens and tips and even heavy cords to get more heat to the tips.

I payed around 80 fot the unit pens and box with supplies and odds and ends, so you did good.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Some of my first deaks with some others....

100_1008.jpg

2 years in...

IMG00320-20101007-1534.jpg

4 years later....

First Replica...

decoyreplica.jpg

Working Realistic Smallie- Havent clear coated it yet...

2012-10-03032129.jpg

Vikings Nord.... 3-1 right now?

2012-08-31181120.jpg

Muskie before clear...

2012-09-08153624.jpg

Black Volitan Lionfish

DSCN1248.jpg

As you can see over time and hard work things come together and can progressively get better, my first decoys really well you see them haha, BNS knows... Sorry I havent put any input in yet, bookmarked the archery page and kept forgetting to get on the spearing forum.

The page merk posted for weighting- I didnt like it, not enough information- and mis directed information on wieghting- I do this for a living- and most of that can send you off the beaten path. I started from the Mike Holmes article, I recently discussed his article in detail with him in person- funny thing was he told me my "s" shape decoys wouldn't swim right til he tested them @ perham. smile nods of approval from Bob Johnson,Gary Hull, Harley Regan & Mike Holmes on my swimming keeps me going! smile Keep working @ it and it will be more rewarding than you could ever imagine.

Your first decoys, Merk and Chad look great! I can say enough for how happy I am to see more guys coming into carving decoys and keeping our sport alive. I strive for the swimming aspect of decoys primarily and its a fine art that takes time to get down but once you do, it opens up alot of windows for crazy decoys like dragons,lionfish and 13 point buck fish smile

If anyone on here needs help Im more than willing to take a phone call, I talk to guys weekly that call weekly on decoy carving questions... Search my name with decoys behind it and you'll get my number I cant post it on here.

Here's a video I did on weighting a walleye decoy:

As far as the colwood burner- its the best there is in my opinion, with pat kennedy scale tips. otherwise I only use a detail master wood burning pen for really fine details.

General tools I use:

Dremel with stylus 36" extension- carving 80grit sanding drums

Drill Press=lead cavities I use forsner bits- and eyes.

Hot pot

Tin Snips

Orbital Sander

180 fine sanding pad

Iwata airbrush

Cant go wrong with Paint pens either

Loctite 2 part expoxy glue 5min quick set

Band Saw - 1/4" blade- 6tpi

You can get lure eyes- 3/8" is my general working decoy eye size with a 3/8" forsner bit- makes the eyes clean and fit perfect.

Hope this helps guys...

Link to comment
Share on other sites

This post has some great advise, wish I had some of this advise when I started carving. smile

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I agree, I really appreciate all the replies and the replies to come as I'm sure I will have more questions as I get further along. I didn't expect to get the replies that I got here (not doubting you guys I just didn't think that many people still did it) and if you search on the computer for info on carving decoy's there isn't much out there in the way of information on how to go about it. I still have a few more things to purchase before I can go any further with the ones that I have but I will keep posting here as I progress. Thanks again guys!!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Here's another question for you guys that have them. I am looking for an airbrush but there are so many options out there and I have no clue where to start. What are you guys using, single or double action, tip size, are you using a compressor for an airbrush or do you just regulate pressure from a bigger unit. There may be other things that I am not even considering and if there are please let me know. I've got a budget around 150 and would like to have a working system for that money, can this be done? I am not apposed to buying used either, I just need to know the particulars of what to buy...

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Here's another question for you guys that have them. I am looking for an airbrush but there are so many options out there and I have no clue where to start. What are you guys using, single or double action, tip size, are you using a compressor for an airbrush or do you just regulate pressure from a bigger unit. There may be other things that I am not even considering and if there are please let me know. I've got a budget around 150 and would like to have a working system for that money, can this be done? I am not apposed to buying used either, I just need to know the particulars of what to buy...

Double for detail a single would for sealer and clear. I have four different airbrushs a cheap hobby single Action, H.F. Cheap double action, a badger 100 gravity feed extra fine double action, and paasche VL3 bottom feed double action. I'm going to pick up the VL1 and VL5 needles. I use vinyl paints from Cs coating systems, they are water proof, chip resistant, scratch resistant, flexible,and Worm proof. It also has a 15 dry time between coats and handling.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I have used a standard 2 gallon compresser but I now use a paasche silent airbrush compresser. The badger has a inline moisture filter, the all 4 connect to a control box on my paint booth which then comes from a pressure regulator water debris separater with auto drain and then to an adjustable air drier and then finally comes from the compress which has a low pressure regulator, water/debris filter on it.

full-40781-25174-image.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

check out hobby lobby, if you have one around you use there 40% off coupon and go 2 seperate times and pick up an iwata dual action AB and a compressor for $150, for around 250 of value... Its what I did! smile

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Laska,

That is awesome, THANK YOU. The coupon is available for online use as well. If you could only have one brush to start off which Iwata would you recommend? Also which compressor? I will be ordering tomorrow and Tuesday, like you said you can use a 40% off coupon per day

Link to comment
Share on other sites

jason, shoot me a email please.

Ok, but just one question first, about what?

To your profile PM?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Laska,

That is awesome, THANK YOU. The coupon is available for online use as well. If you could only have one brush to start off which Iwata would you recommend? Also which compressor? I will be ordering tomorrow and Tuesday, like you said you can use a 40% off coupon per day

Iwata HP-CH I believe, its the only one you'll ever need for decoys, it has a mac air control valve under the cup, small fine hairline to 3" wide spray. As far as the compressor, I have the blue one from hobby lobby, I do over 700 deaks a year, and the thing is still going, single piston and very quiet for paying attention to detail work, sorry this post is a little behind...

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hobby lobby just started carrying the CH in stores I dont see it online, the compressor i have will run 114,the brush is 220, so 132... Thats my ultimate setup, to start the Iwata CS would work great, with the airstream compressor. Also E to the bay may have better deals on the air compressors...

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I ended up ordering an Iwata HP-BCS from their eclipse line, I haven't used it yet as my compressor went down earlier this week. The new pressure switch will be here on Tuesday of next week. I decided not to get a dedicated air brush compressor until later.

Thanks again for the info on hobby lobby.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

You should be set, shoot away if you have anymore ?'s. Im all about savings, especially when if comes to equipment. That BCS should really do the trick for you. If you want to try templates, wally world has the best template material. 3 sheets for $4.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I learn new things here everyday. Thanks laska I never thought of Wally World for that and 40% off everyday great advise, I found leather ends and scrapes bulk bags at hobby lobby for just a few bucks and it has some bigger chunck that are great for putting a razor edge on my forged knifes almost scary sharp.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

My hobby lobby secret is out now... lol Its all good, saves me tons of money, even if Im only buying bulk airbrush paint a couple bucks goes a long ways. Whats even better is I bring my wife and we both get the discount on whatever I need. All you have to do for in store is bring up the coupon on your phone and show them that and you get the discount! smile Ive tried the peel n stick template material and I cant stand it for decoys, cars and hobby stuff its great but its not reusable like the stuff from wally world. Use windex to clean whatever template you cut and the paint rubs right off of it. Good stuff and cheap!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Restore formatting

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.




  • Your Responses - Share & Have Fun :)

    • smurfy
      kettle, anyone?????are you guys getting any rain worth while up  there?????
    • smurfy
      i cant help you with the weed thing, but i just came back form out that way......Regal, New London Hawick area. i dont no how big the swat of rain was but there is water standing everywhere. my buddy told me they had over 3 inches of rain yesterday/last night 
    • mulefarm
      With the early ice out, how is the curlyleaf pondweed doing?
    • LakeofthewoodsMN
      On the south end...   The big basin, otherwise known as Big Traverse Bay, is ice free.  Zippel Bay and Four Mile Bay are ice free as well.  Everything is shaping up nicely for the MN Fishing Opener on May 11th. With the walleye / sauger season currently closed, most anglers are targeting sturgeon and pike.  Some sturgeon anglers are fishing at the mouth of the Rainy River, but most sturgeon are targeted in Four Mile Bay or the Rainy River.  Hence, pike are the targeted species on the south shore and various bays currently.   Pike fishing this time of year is a unique opportunity, as LOW is border water with Canada, the pike season is open year round. The limit is 3 pike per day with one being able to be more than 40 inches. All fish 30 - 40 inches must be released. Back bays hold pike as they go through the various stages of the spawn.  Deadbait under a bobber, spinners, spoons and shallow diving crankbaits are all viable options.   Four Mile Bay, Bostic Bay and Zippel Bay are all small water and boats of various sizes work well. On the Rainy River...  Great news this week as we learned sturgeon will not be placed on the endangered species list by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.     The organization had to make a decision by June 30 and listing sturgeon could have ended sturgeon fishing.  Thankfully, after looking at the many success stories across the nation, including LOW and the Rainy River, sturgeon fishing and successful sturgeon management continues.   A good week sturgeon fishing on the Rainy River.  Speaking to some sturgeon aficionados, fishing will actually get even better as water temps rise.     Four Mile Bay at the mouth of the Rainy River near the Wheeler's Point Boat Ramp is still producing good numbers of fish, as are various holes along the 42 miles of navigable Rainy River from the mouth to Birchdale.   The sturgeon season continues through May 15th and resumes again July 1st.   Oct 1 - April 23, Catch and Release April 24 - May 7, Harvest Season May 8 - May 15, Catch and Release May 16 - June 30, Sturgeon Fishing Closed July 1 - Sep 30, Harvest Season If you fish during the sturgeon harvest season and you want to keep a sturgeon, you must purchase a sturgeon tag for $5 prior to fishing.    One sturgeon per calendar year (45 - 50" inclusive, or over 75"). Most sturgeon anglers are either a glob of crawlers or a combo of crawlers and frozen emerald shiners on a sturgeon rig, which is an 18" leader with a 4/0 circle hook combined with a no roll sinker.  Local bait shops have all of the gear and bait. Up at the NW Angle...  A few spots with rotten ice, but as a rule, most of the Angle is showing off open water.  In these parts, most are looking ahead to the MN Fishing Opener.  Based on late ice fishing success, it should be a good one.  
    • leech~~
      Nice fish. I moved to the Sartell area last summer and just thought it was windy like this everyday up here? 🤭
    • Rick G
      Crazy windy again today.... This is has been the norm this spring. Between the wind and the cold fronts, fishing has been more challenging for me than most years.  Panfish have been moving in and out of the shallows quite a bit. One day they are up in the slop, the next they are out relating to cabbage or the newly sprouting lilly pads.  Today eye guy and I found them in 4-5 ft of water, hanging close to any tree branches that happened to be laying in the water.  Bigger fish were liking a 1/32 head and a Bobby Garland baby shad.   Highlight of the day way this healthy 15incher
    • monstermoose78
    • monstermoose78
      As I typed that here came a hen.  IMG_7032.mov   IMG_7032.mov
    • monstermoose78
      So far this morning nothing but non turkeys. 
    • monstermoose78
      Well yesterday I got a little excited and let a turkey get to close and I hit the blind!!
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

By using this site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue.