Published Mar 8, 2010 9:02 AM EST, We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. :thumbsup: I do own a few dozen foam filled decoys, they are in the shooting pocket, all the rest are elsewhere, seems to be working well. Paint these wing bars so they are approximately twice as wide as their original paint job (i.e., 1/4 in. I was thinking about filling some decoys with foam. Once the head is nearly complete, using Apoxie Sculpt, set the eyes and then finish smoothing the head and blending transitions. For true blanks, start by either drawing your own pattern or using one from a decoy pattern book. [2] Drill four 1/8-inch holes in the butt end. Once dry and set, we started the painting process. While you're at it pick up some self hardening clay - the kind that will harden without needing to be heated in an oven. Wrap a layer of. Paint it and away you go. Hunting. Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made. Sorry this is long, but I wanted to share a little project I am working on. www.foamdecoys.com Start by taking off small amounts of material, remembering that once it comes off, it cant be replaced. Waterfowl Hunters are extremely hard on Decoys and Homer Decoys has tested our foam decoys beyond any condition you will ever use them in to ensure theyre the strongest most durable decoy available on the market today. Once sanding is complete, seal the decoy with an appropriate sealer for the media (see list above) with a minimum of two coats before moving onto paint. Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service. Drape Cape If you like easy, simply plunk down a credit card at a major sporting goods store for a Turkey Skinz. In all applications, paint or prime the entire decoy in one color, likely white or black depending on the outer color of the finished decoy; i.e., a white base for canvasbacks and black for black ducks. By utilizing pre-made cutouts or kits, you can make decoys with minimal tooling investment, allowing anyone to whittle out a few special blocks for the upcoming season during drab summer months. Mark Kayser While carved decoys are certainly more expensive than manufactured plastic decoys, they add some nostalgia and a personal touch to an otherwise standard decoy rig. A timing system is used to sequence the . Whether cork, wood or even foam, the tooling list for most decoy medias remains consistent. After one or two base coats have thoroughly dried, start working in outer colors and details using appropriate colors and techniques. Just as silo decoys can create a sense of motion, so can multiple poses in decoys. Can patch the hole in the head with apoxie sculpt if you want or just shape the foam. If you are interested I may be able to get the diver mold I used back and loan it out. For the waterfowler on a budget, these 5 decoys you can easily be made at home. On sale. JavaScript is disabled. Here are five waterfowl decoys for divers, dabblers, and geese that you can make yourself. I plan to burlap these before painting and will attach a small keel just for a little weight. 2023 Heyday Outdoor | All Rights Reserved. 2 part urethane used for molding decoys. It also holds paint well. | Strutting gobbler decoys are hot items now, and for good reason: They work. You are creating a parting line, which marks where the left and right sides of the mold will come together. Removing the UpRight Weights transforms the decoy to an unprecedented level of ultra-light. Front and rear stainless steel Easy Attach Eye Bolts that will never fail. Heydays symmetrical dual-keel hull allows decoys to deploy on the hard ground of a river bank, field, ice, or sand as tides let out without the lean you get from a single keel decoy. Feb 3, 2019 - Explore Colin Davis's board "Foam decoy carving" on Pinterest. It doesnt matter if its a gobbler or a hen; just make sure its legal. The goal is to have an all foam spread within two years. Proprietary Photoform process using actual imagery of a turkey. To take it hunting, fold the fan in half or thirds lengthwise and stuff it in your vest. Drill a couple 1 1/4" holes in the bottom of the decoy with a hole saw (fore and aft), and a 1/2" or so hole on the bottom of the head, figure out how much foam you need with the expansion rate, pour it in, trim off what comes out of the holes. Every Heyday Decoy comes with a pair of UpRight weights which can be installed into the bottom of each decoy. Using three long heavy T-pins, tack the fan onto a large cardboard box, and push the pins all the way through for a secure hold. Carved from foam. With the mold volume now known, you can mix two part foam (8lb)and pour it through several 3/4" pour holes in the plexiglass in an exact quantity to minimize waste via overexpansion. See more ideas about decoy carving, decoy, carving. Regrettably, taxidermy-quality decoys cost nearly as much as a finished mount youd display in your trophy room. This is the same material (a closed cell EVA resin) used to make Crocs. Turn a Heyday floating mallard decoy over and you'll immediately notice the HollowCore body. Molded entirely from EVA foam, our HydroFoam line pulls double duty as both the LIGHTEST and most DURABLE decoy on the market. Whether you're hunting duck or goose, we've got decoys for both. Once the pattern is ready, trace it onto the decoy and carefully start cutting off excessive material with a band saw. Only weighs 7 Oz. Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made. FEATURED PRODUCTS Out of stock Puddle Duck Decoy Kit $ 150.00 - $ 165.00 Details Out of stock Goose/Brant Decoy Kit $ 156.25 - $ 171.25 Details Super Magnum Decoy Kit $ 156.25 - $ 171.25 Walking into the hole, you might forget they are there as our EVA foam reduces noise in transportation to an almost eerie quiet. You will see it change from an amber brown to a light yellow. Email: [emailprotected] Its just $1 per month . Start this step by using 80- or 100-grit sandpaper to smooth the decoy, making sure to get inside all the nooks and crannies to contour the decoys shape. Pour salt or borax onto the butt end to preserve the fan. I am looking at buying molds for making my own foam decoys. Finally, take your favorite decoy and adhere your dry skin to the outside using an all-weather adhesive such as Gorilla Glue. Dixie Decoys FrogSkin Timber Camo 1/4 Zip. Decoys can also be textured using a comb and some gesso, should that look be desired. For the stake, use an 18-inch length of 3/4-inch PVC pipe. Store your decoys in temperatures between 56 F and 72 F. 1. Before he died, Chuck asked me to help clean up his shop and disposition a lot of his carving stuff once he passed. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. I also have my own magnum mallard mold that could be trimmed to more accurately depict a diver shape. Once you get onto the process the carving part, basically the artistic part will take about 15 minutes per decoy, the rest of the process is more or less just knowing how and doing it. We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. It protects the lining of your house, and can even assist in the heating and cooling of your house during those unbearably cold or hot days. Johnson Roughed Out Decoy Cutouts or Cedar/Cork Blanks, Bandsaw (necessary for those starting with a true blank), Dremel Tool w/ Multiple Bits and Sanding Wheels, Apoxie Sculpt (Used for blending joints, filling in mistakes, etc. This is a cheap way to reuse old. A few suggestions would be to not do the burlap method and restle coat them instead and use the saved cash on a few gallons of polyurethane foam. You can attempt to keep the wings attached to the entire skin or remove them prior to skinning. All media carves differently, with cork being the easiest for newcomers to start with, and foam being the cheapest but requiring the most work after carving to create a rugged outer shell. JavaScript is disabled. While its still wet, sprinkle 20 Mule Team Borax liberally over the skin and let dry for a minimum of two weeks. As the wood smooths, start decreasing the grit size incrementally down as low as 250 to ensure that small defects and scratches have been removed. Some guys clamp the mold and plexiglass unit to a piece of shelving to force the foam to expand fully within the mold to get a slightly denser decoy. Banded Birds - Black Ducks - 6, Mallards 19 (3 Jack Miner) BW Teal - 2, Wood Ducks - 1, 1 Ross and 1 snow Goose (Both reward bands) , Canada Geese - 15 (2 neck collars), Morning Dove - 1. M.D. Whether it is the first time applying flock to the decoys or to complete touche ups, these kits will meet your needs. She used the cover of a grass waterway in the field to help hide her outline, and stalked 250 yards to . This decoy, which sits on a foam-filled base, sprays water to create ripples and also simulates a mallard drake stretching its wings. Items included are: flocking, applicator, brush . While aesthetics are important, dont get too wrapped up in making the perfect decoy the first time it takes lots of practice to turn a vision onto reality. Inflatables. First, hit the craft store and get a Styrofoam ball about the size of a deer's head. 2. Haven't done it myself but a hunting buddy hasn't had any problems with it. Moisture can seep in, leading the wood to expand. Michael R. Shea/ Outdoor Life They make incredible Halloween decorations and are perfect for scaring away specific birds that can harm small pets and gardens. Drill a couple 1 1/4" holes in the bottom of the decoy with a hole saw (fore and aft), and a 1/2" or so hole on the bottom of the head, figure out how much foam you need with the expansion rate, pour it in, trim off what comes out of the holes. Once the roughed-out decoy is complete, begin refining the shape of the decoy by drawing half lines down the center of the body, side of the body, and around the crown of the head. :beer: I've also seen the $3 regular spray can foam from Walmart used. Ask 10 different carvers what type or brand of paint they use and you will get 10 different answers. Sign up to receive Popular Science's emails and get the highlights. Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service. Heres how to put a birds tail feathers to work for you. We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Drape Cape We set the decoys in a warm well ventilated area, and let them set and dry for 48 hours. Homer Decoys was recently sold to the Hash family and is now located in Conowingo, Maryland. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission, which supports our community. Subscribe to OL+ for our best feature stories and photography. Dixie Decoys, LLC is proudly owned by an active duty Marine. With an emphasis on traditional style combined with modern decoy technology, Dixie Decoys brings you waterfowl hunting gear that connects you with the past while providing all of the advantages today's sportsmen demand on the water. http://www.nchuntandfish.com/forums/showthread.php?111654-Freshly-painted-redheads&highlight=foam+decoys, https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rctVw5MkgvUkskrRtid5TA00Q&bvm=bv.137132246,d.eWE. All of this natural movement enhances realism making HEYDAY decoys more effective. In the past I have used a hot glue gun to patch holes with limited success. Another advantage of Heyday's HydroFoam construction is the fact that, unlike plastic, the foam allows for dimensional, carved-in detail. Cut a keel from the furring strip and epoxy in place. It should be dry and ready for Steps 2 and 3 in two weeks. Homer Decoys gives you a step by step how to burlap foam decoys. Michael R. Shea A guide at Turkey Trot Acres in New York, Jerome uses a mounted, full-strut jake combined with one or two taxidermy-quality hens to lure mature toms even without calls. Cut a keel from the furring strip and epoxy in place. wide). In order to make a decoy that doesnt look like a head and body were just screwed together, make sure that, during carving, you frequently mock-fit the head and body together to ensure their profiles are suitable matches for one another. Carve a duck head from the basswood or find a plastic head online. That way you can save your hard-earned cash for all that ammo youre going to need this season. :thumbsup: I've also seen the $3 regular spray can foam from Walmart used. Foldable plastics. We create working decoys of style, character and durability that will be worthy of passing down to the next generation. Stand-still. The warmer it is the quicker it starts to go. To touch up a mallard hen, use a small brush to lengthen and widen the two white wing bars on each side of the body (bordering the speculum). This story was originally featured on Outdoor Life. It's easy to hook up your Texas Rig decoy anchors to your Heyday Decoys thanks to our built-in stainless steel, reinforced Easy-Attach Eye Bolts tested to withstand in excess of 165lbs. Just $1 per month . Come join the discussion about safety, gear, tips, tricks, optics, hunting, gunsmithing, reviews, reports, accessories, classifieds, and more! Cut out a foam or wooden head and neck and attach it to one side of the buoy. And, even with the weights, a Heyday Decoy is still lighter than a traditional decoy. A lot of the reason I got into carving my own foamers was back in those days all decoys were the same. Homer Decoys Bodies and Heads are made using all recycled materials in the United States. For acrylic painting, anything from exterior house paints to craft-store tube paints can be used, mixed and intermingled, making them a great choice. No external heat source is required when making decoys of this material. Dixie Decoys FrogSkin Camo Timber Neck Gaiter $19.99. Spray foam is a type of insulation that expands after you spray. The steps below are suitable for either wood or cork decoys, and even foam, with some nuances. A single 1/4" hole under the tail feathers. By utilizing pre-made cutouts or kits, you can make decoys with minimal tooling investment, allowing anyone to whittle out a few special blocks for the upcoming season during drab summer months. If you want to use the mold you made it will either need mold release or to be super smooth. Wrap a layer of burlap over the foam. Step 1: Preparation Whether cork, wood or even foam, the tooling list for most decoy medias remains consistent. Join PopSci+ to read sciences greatest stories. A forum community dedicated to duck hunters and hunting enthusiasts. A real gobbler fan costs nothing and packs easilyand can be as effective as the full-blown fake. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. In addition to reference lines, draw in eye channels on the head to help find the proper eye set location, bill details like nostrils or nails, and any carving details desired to the body like wingtips or side pockets. But theyre also pricey and a pain to carry. [1] Remove the entire fan by cutting around the fleshy base of the tail. The main thing to remember is that ALL details should be symmetric, and the decoy, if cut in half down the length of the body, should be a mirror image. The foam expands and seals, deterring moisture (which can create mold) and pests from eating through your walls. Homer Decoys are proudly manufactured in a small community located in Piqua, Ohio. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Homer Decoys are designed to withstand the harshest conditions possible. Duck hunting decoys dont have to cost you $150 per dozen. Multiple positions; contented, feeding and breeding. These centerlines keep things proportional by providing a good reference line so parts dont become asymmetric. Sanding can really make features stand out by creating sharp, precise transitions. Published Aug 28, 2012 12:09 AM EDT, We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Join PopSci+ to read sciences greatest stories. DIY styrofoam decoy - aminate the foam boards into a duck-sized block and start carving until it resembles the shape of a resting bird. While there are many good resources on the internet, books available for purchase, and forums where carving legends can be chatted up, sometimes the best way to get started is to simply take the plunge and learn as you go. Float the decoy in a tub and add weight to the keel until the bird looks like it ought to in the water. Base coat of uv mallard paint. Scuff the PVC with sandpaper and spray-paint it a dull color, like matte black. Thanks for the information. Foam board; A realistic 13"x17" strutting tom picture; Two 1/4" wooden dowels; Gorilla glue/X-treme Elmer's glue; . Gee String VerticalScope Inc., 111 Peter Street, Suite 600, Toronto, Ontario, M5V 2H1, Canada. Of Decoy Flocking Kits in the USA. These five homemade decoys are perfect for the waterfowler on a budget. The economy is bad, but the duck hunting this season should be goodreal goodif you can afford to hunt it. Dixie Decoys FrogSkin Camo Timber Hat $29.99. Once you get onto the process the carving part, basically the artistic part will take about 15 minutes per decoy, the rest of the process is more or less just knowing how and doing it. Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made. For new carvers, acrylic paints are the cheapest and easiest to work with, as oils require mixing, cutting and other aspects that require more extensive knowledge. Because the HydroFoam material itself floats, and because it's so durable, weight is further reduced by hollowing out the entire decoy body. This is also a good time to at least begin fitting a keel, if desired, to the bottom of the decoy. Subscribe to OL+ for our best feature stories and photography. Can patch the hole in the head with apoxie sculpt if you want or just shape the foam. We used great stuff to fill up some diver decoys and they ended up absorbing the water and sinking. Extra Features. You would probably still want to burlap the finished product just for extra durability. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission, which supports our community. Save money by making your own waterfowl decoys. You must log in or register to reply here. Welp, go to Big lots in the summer and buy a case of the pool noodles, bundle them together and VOILA safety at its finest. If you removed the wings, glue a few wing feathers at appropriate locations. This enticer employs feathers mounted to a stake that raises and lowers a convincing tom fan with the tug of a string. I put coat of titbeond 3 on the foam, and a few sifted coats of sawdust. Thats awesome man. ), Sealer: (wooden decoys- Traditions Multi-Surface Sealer, cork decoys- Traditions Cork Sealer). However, I work at a taxidermy supply company and we make forms from two part expanding foam and the stuff is pretty easy to use. I'm with Wildlifer about the foam though. I have never used any two part foam to make decoys, I carve mine from foam and then burlap them. The decoy doesn't move, making it slightly less appealing to real crows than motorized ones. Youre now ready for the field. Dixie Decoys Drifter Sport Shirt. Start on the top of the head, go down the neck and back and all the way around to your starting point. I've got guys I've helped making some pretty incredible stuff after just a few months. Once it's mixed you'll have a few minutes before it starts to go. At the point it's still pourable but you don't have much time left. Having the same tin soldier look in a spread can leave it looking lifeless, we call it a "dead spread". Decoy Flocking Kits allow you to minimize glare, creating a realistic look from the sky. This foam is far superior to the EPS type foam. Hardens nicely and makes them very durable. Sunday is gonna be good. Think about a Croc that you can hunt over. Make floating decoys from foam buoys by cutting the buoy in half and attaching a wooden keel to the bottom to keep it floating properly. Ask Gabe Jerome. For the stake, use. Probably saved me from ruining a couple dozen decoys. Learn more. Like on a pontoon, Heyday decoys two keels work together to replicate true duck behavior and keep the decoys swimming straight without the unnatural side-to-side drunk duck darting that is characteristic of single keel decoys. I was wondering if anyone has done this and how it worked out? It doesn't take as much as you'd think either. The Fora platform includes forum software by XenForo. Our decoys are proudly manufactured in a small community located in Piqua, Ohio from recycled materials and sold in Conowingo, Maryland. A two-part urethane foam decoy is derived when the two liquid parts are mixed, poured into a mold, and allowed time to expand and harden. The splashing element, created by a hidden bilge pump, is adjustable via control flaps. While decoys can be made a variety of ways, for the purposes of this instruction, the equipment list below focuses on generally available tools that you might already have around the garage, helping to minimize initial investments. While fine feather details are great in hand, from a distance, they make absolutely no difference to the birds so dont get hung up on them if things arent perfect right away. Learn More Spring By With a roughed-out or cutout kit, most of this work has been done for you. If you have a streak of Bob Vila in you, then this next option might be more your style. Joined May 14, 2001 Messages 540 Reaction score 160 Location Chillicothe, MO. The weight of the foam decoy is less than half a pound. I only use UV paint for decoys. They also clean up with water, making them easier to deal with, and mistakes can be easily wiped away. But if you want to become a puppeteer, incorporate a stake that allows the decoy to move realistically when you pull a string, and be ready to defend your creationtoms will literally try to climb aboard. Chris Philpot [2] Drill four 1/8-inch holes in the butt end. I will check the site out. Our mission is to inspire the preservation of the sporting tradition. Decoys two and three are always better than the first. Next, join the 10-foot sections of conduit using the butt-end connector. US composites is a good source for the 2 part poly foamI'd get the 3 or 4 pound density foam, the 2 pound is a little bit light unless you just want a bunch of cheap decoys. | HydroFoam Mallards - Light as a Feather, Lasts Forever $149.99 - $299.98 HydroFoam Flocked Mallards - Light as a Feather, Lasts Forever $159.99 - $319.98 If you remove the wings, you can pluck a few major wing feathers and attach them to the foam decoy when you drape it with your skin. This allows the carver to have a better bill-to-head size reference and the head shape to be representative, allowing the bill to essentially flow out of the head. If you like easy, simply plunk down a credit card at a major sporting goods store for a Turkey Skinz.
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