Dixie Decoys Drifter Sport Shirt. Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service. Items included are: flocking, applicator, brush . Sanding can really make features stand out by creating sharp, precise transitions. This is the same material (a closed cell EVA resin) used to make Crocs. 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. The steps below are suitable for either wood or cork decoys, and even foam, with some nuances. Give 'em the ol' Texas trash bag treatment. Walking into the hole, you might forget they are there as our EVA foam reduces noise in transportation to an almost eerie quiet. I went back on my old foam decoy thread and realized I never did a step by step like you mentioned in that thread. You can attempt to keep the wings attached to the entire skin or remove them prior to skinning. 2. A single 1/4" hole under the tail feathers. If you have a streak of Bob Vila in you, then this next option might be more your style. The less dense the foam is the quicker is expands. Dixie Decoys FrogSkin Camo Timber Hat $29.99. Step 1: Preparation Whether cork, wood or even foam, the tooling list for most decoy medias remains consistent. If you don't want to bring your iPad into the bathroom, we can send you a magazine subscription for free! 2. Published Apr 3, 2012 11:50 PM EDT, We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Homer Decoys gives you a step by step how to burlap foam decoys. 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. Feb 3, 2019 - Explore Colin Davis's board "Foam decoy carving" on Pinterest. It is still plenty workable as it starts to expand. Combined with a light weight body, the rounded Dual-Keel design instead of a straight single keel allows a Heyday decoy to move much more freely when subjected to even the slightest breeze or current. For a more pleasing look on the water, the decoy should be rounded at the bottom, starting up about 2 inches from the bottom. | [1] Remove the entire fan by cutting around the fleshy base of the tail. Subscribe to OL+ for our best feature stories and photography. One of my friends that learned how to make foamers here at my shop won a decoy competition at rappahannock this year with his 20th foamer decoy. After one or two base coats have thoroughly dried, start working in outer colors and details using appropriate colors and techniques. We are proud to be the official decoy of GameWay Farms. No external heat source is required when making decoys of this material. Collapse it, fold it, carry it. I like it! With a roughed-out or cutout kit, most of this work has been done for you. 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. Please enable JavaScript to view the comments. But theyre also pricey and a pain to carry. The shape of the keel can be as basic as a rectangle or as detailed as a half-moon, but the important thing is that its size fits the bird. Retail price is approximately $45. This story was originally featured on Outdoor Life. Thanks. Published Mar 8, 2010 9:02 AM EST, We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Decoy kits include items to create high quality work. Wrap a layer of. Chuck was a great friend and unfortunately passed away a few years ago. http://workingdecoys.net/workingdecoysforum/index.php, Shotshell, Reloading, Ballistics, & Chokes. Joined May 14, 2001 Messages 540 Reaction score 160 Location Chillicothe, MO. Whether it is the first time applying flock to the decoys or to complete touche ups, these kits will meet your needs. Start off by taking minimal material with each pass, and increase this amount as confidence builds. You know of any reason not to use the canned spray foam? A lot of the reason I got into carving my own foamers was back in those days all decoys were the same. The fun thing about the foam trend is that you don't have to be too precise and it's super-affordable to DIY, yet it still looks like a very original, unique statement piece. Wrap a layer of burlap over the foam. Join PopSci+ to read sciences greatest stories. Dixie Decoys FrogSkin Camo Timber Neck Gaiter $19.99. Cut one end at a 45-degree angle so you can easily drive it into the ground. It is important to remember that defects will become more visible once paint has been applied, so take some time to check and double check that every area of the decoy is silky smooth. If you want to use the mold you made it will either need mold release or to be super smooth. The problem with the mold release is that it gets into the foam and makes it impossible to get the glue to stick. Proprietary Photoform process using actual imagery of a turkey. You just mix it 50/50 and pour it in and the stuff goes a long way. Whether you're hunting duck or goose, we've got decoys for both. 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. Learn more. Be sure that the parting line is drawn along the exact center of the decoy. A real gobbler fan costs nothing and packs easilyand can be as effective as the full-blown fake. Plus, every Heyday decoy is painted in a photorealistic manner based on aerial images taken of real ducks. Here are step-by-step instructions for how. Think about a Croc that you can hunt over. Having the same tin soldier look in a spread can leave it looking lifeless, we call it a "dead spread". 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. That doesn't sound like much of a big deal, but if the wood expands, it can cause the decoy to split, crack, or even rot depending on how much moisture finds its way inside. BB - one of the best canvas decoy makers our state has ever known was Dr. Chuck May out of Murrells Inlet. On sale. Use black and white spray paint to give the decoy a convincing color scheme. Come join the discussion about safety, gear, tips, tricks, optics, hunting, gunsmithing, reviews, reports, accessories, classifieds, and more! The Fora platform includes forum software by XenForo. Stand-still. Once the pattern is ready, trace it onto the decoy and carefully start cutting off excessive material with a band saw. We did the molded decoy thing, but quickly grew out of that and progressed into carving decoys out of foam and wood. [2] Drill four 1/8-inch holes in the butt end. While its still wet, sprinkle 20 Mule Team Borax liberally over the skin and let dry for a minimum of two weeks. This texturing creates realistic shadowing for a more natural looking decoy. Hardens nicely and makes them very durable. 2023 Grand View Outdoors All Rights Reserved | JavaScript is disabled. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission, which supports our community. Chris Philpot [2] Drill four 1/8-inch holes in the butt end. I will check the site out. Blending coats and white. Once the two components are solidly attached and the glue has dried, use Apoxie Sculpt or another type of sculpting material to help blend the neck and body joints and touch up any big divots in the body. Learn More Duck By Decoys two and three are always better than the first. Be like shooting any other foam filled decoy. Once dry and set, we started the painting process. Cut out a foam or wooden head and neck and attach it to one side of the buoy. Won't hurt them a bit. 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. Cool you put some thought into it cant wait to see finished product. I also have my own magnum mallard mold that could be trimmed to more accurately depict a diver shape. Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made. A good way to avoid the bill becoming disproportional is to carve the majority of the head before even rounding the ends of the bill. I redid an aluminum boat couple years back and tried replacing the floatation foam. Not only will they never sink, but HEYDAYs HydroFoam makes for a lightweight duck decoy that is more durable and quieter than any plastic decoy, thus making it easier and more enjoyable to transport, deploy, and pack up. This decoy, which sits on a foam-filled base, sprays water to create ripples and also simulates a mallard drake stretching its wings. We used great stuff to fill up some diver decoys and they ended up absorbing the water and sinking. The splashing element, created by a hidden bilge pump, is adjustable via control flaps. It also holds paint well. 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. I plan to burlap these before painting and will attach a small keel just for a little weight. 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 These five homemade decoys are perfect for the waterfowler on a budget. While experts can make the details look easy, novices will find that painting intricate detail can be frustrating. Subscribe to OL+ for our best feature stories and photography. If you run gang rigs and one sinks no biggie its attached to the line. 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. Apply mastic and let it sit for 24 hours. Trim the flesh and fat, being sure to remove the milky-white oil glands. If desired, additional and reference lines can be added to make it easier to keep things equal, especially in areas where rounding will occur. 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. By Learn More . Sunday is gonna be good. I am looking at buying molds for making my own foam decoys. 1can does about a dozen and it seems to hold up pretty well. Can patch the hole in the head with apoxie sculpt if you want or just shape the foam. Be especially careful when carving the head, especially around the bill, as it can easily start to look odd and can turn from duck bill to crow beak in just a few quick passes. Once the head is nearly complete, using Apoxie Sculpt, set the eyes and then finish smoothing the head and blending transitions. Great stuff is open celled foam and will eventually absorb water no matter how you cover it up. A video teaching you how to burlap foam decoys. Mark Kayser Molded entirely from EVA foam, our HydroFoam line pulls double duty as both the LIGHTEST and most DURABLE decoy on the market. Homer Decoys was recently sold to the Hash family and is now located in Conowingo, Maryland. Paint it and away you go. 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. Shave down the decoy equally on both side and use calipers to ensure dimensions are duplicated on both sides of the decoy. Drape Cape If you like easy, simply plunk down a credit card at a major sporting goods store for a Turkey Skinz. Another advantage of Heyday's HydroFoam construction is the fact that, unlike plastic, the foam allows for dimensional, carved-in detail. Whether cork, wood or even foam, the tooling list for most decoy medias remains consistent. [3] Flip the fan over and secure it to the stake with two 8-inch cable ties threaded through the holes drilled in Step 2. Join PopSci+ to read sciences greatest stories. 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. Even the best carvers started out with basic decoys, so dont get discouraged if your first bird looks more cormorant than canvasback. Series 72 Decoys While paying homage to the past, we take burlap wrapped foam decoys to a new level of excellence by using our tried and true wooden decoy heads, signature keel, and an upgraded airbrush paint job. 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. The Fool 'Em Finish - yet another reason Heyday's lifetime duck decoys work so well. First, hit the craft store and get a Styrofoam ball about the size of a deer's head. 1. You are creating a parting line, which marks where the left and right sides of the mold will come together. Assemble at the hunting site. The warmer it is the quicker it starts to go. Once the head and body are carved to your liking, it is time to fit them together for final blending/finishing. Then, skin the turkey out. Extra Features. You are using an out of date browser. Join F&S+ to read exclusive stories by your favorite writers. Pretty neat project Henry! 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. Motion. This is also a good time to at least begin fitting a keel, if desired, to the bottom of the decoy. www.foamdecoys.com Gee String Just $1 per month , Lure in big gobblers using a home-made turkey fan decoy, By Extremely lightweight, flexible, and portable. 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. |, Lynx Trail Cam Video: A Sound Like Youve Never Heard Before, Waterfowl & Retriever 2023 Ultimate Gear Giveaway, Whitetail Journal 2023 Ultimate Gear Giveaway, Bowhunting World 2023 Ultimate Gear Giveaway, Predator Xtreme 2023 Ultimate Gear Giveaway, Great Gear: Howa Hera H7 Bolt-Action Rifle. Johnson Youre almost finished. The foam expands and seals, deterring moisture (which can create mold) and pests from eating through your walls. 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. Pour salt or borax onto the butt end to preserve the fan. Thread starter jeffc; Start date Apr 6, 2018; Apr 6, 2018 #1 J. jeffc Senior Refuge Member. After caping the turkey and removing all fat and meat, stretch the hide out on a sturdy piece of cardboard using tacks or pins. Next, join the 10-foot sections of conduit using the butt-end connector. 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. Our decoys are proudly manufactured in a small community located in Piqua, Ohio from recycled materials and sold in Conowingo, Maryland. Actual Hen image printed on to durable 3DFoam. The weight of the foam decoy is less than half a pound. That way you can save your hard-earned cash for all that ammo youre going to need this season. 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. Carved from foam. I'm with Wildlifer about the foam though. Store your decoys in temperatures between 56 F and 72 F. 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. Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made. 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. Your mold is awesome though and I bet you won't have to worry about it blowing away.lol. The economy is bad, but the duck hunting this season should be goodreal goodif you can afford to hunt it. Every Heyday Decoy comes with a pair of UpRight weights which can be installed into the bottom of each decoy. Homer Decoys Bodies and Heads are made using all recycled materials in the United States. Homer Decoys has been making decoys the old fashion way for over 2 decades, there isnt a style, way, shape or form we havent tried. How-to: Laminate the foam boards into a duck-sized block and start carving until it resembles the shape of a resting bird. 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. Once all details have been completely drawn out, drill the holes for glass eyes using a drill bit that is very slightly larger than the diameter of the eyes intended to be used, making sure they are parallel side to side and front to back. 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. No chipping or peeling. Gee String Retail price is approximately $45. The decoy doesn't move, making it slightly less appealing to real crows than motorized ones. It may not display this or other websites correctly. Hunting. Published Aug 28, 2012 12:09 AM EDT, We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Draw a line around the center of the duck decoy. Join F&S+ to read exclusive stories by your favorite writers. If you are interested I may be able to get the diver mold I used back and loan it out. At the point it's still pourable but you don't have much time left. Place one pin through the base of the tail and one each through the middle of the quills of the left- and rightmost feathers. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. To find decoy blank cutouts, parts, components and other items, check out the theduckblind.com. You will see it change from an amber brown to a light yellow. I want to start building a foam decoy spread and steadily replace my plastic decoys with them as I get groups of them completed. For most new carvers, it takes some time to figure out the perfect amount to remove with each pass, and this skill will be developed over time. After the glue and dust harden. Just as silo decoys can create a sense of motion, so can multiple poses in decoys. First, drive the -inch conduit into the ground until sturdy. Lance shows how to paint decoys to bulk up your spread for the fall. These centerlines keep things proportional by providing a good reference line so parts dont become asymmetric. I am considering . Can patch the hole in the head with apoxie sculpt if you want or just shape the foam. 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). Because the HydroFoam material itself floats, and because it's so durable, weight is further reduced by hollowing out the entire decoy body. Turn a Heyday floating mallard decoy over and you'll immediately notice the HollowCore body. Ask 10 different carvers what type or brand of paint they use and you will get 10 different answers. I thought about doing this sometime to make Crow decoys since for whatever reason I hate to spend money on a decoy for a black bird. VerticalScope Inc., 111 Peter Street, Suite 600, Toronto, Ontario, M5V 2H1, Canada. 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. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Using mostly garage or shop items, most carving newbies have everything they need already, keeping initial investments to a minimum. The goal is to have an all foam spread within two years. Overall, have fun, get creative, and work to get better. http://www.amazon.com/Pourable-Flotatio B0047R4AQW, Shotshell, Reloading, Ballistics, & Chokes. Homemade duck decoys can be painted to attract different varieties of ducks. She used the cover of a grass waterway in the field to help hide her outline, and stalked 250 yards to . If you removed the wings, glue a few wing feathers at appropriate locations. You must log in or register to reply here. A forum community dedicated to duck hunters and hunting enthusiasts. VerticalScope Inc., 111 Peter Street, Suite 600, Toronto, Ontario, M5V 2H1, Canada. Float the decoy in a tub and add weight to the keel until the bird looks like it ought to in the water. Designers and DIY . Some sealers may raise the grain slightly, so make sure to knock it back down with small-grit sandpaper or even steel wool before priming. 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. A timing system is used to sequence the . Come join the discussion about safety, gear, tips, tricks, optics, hunting, gunsmithing, reviews, reports, accessories, classifieds, and more! Homer Decoys are designed and built to last a lifetime and withstand the harshest of hunting conditions. Next comes the tricky part. 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. I have never used any two part foam to make decoys, I carve mine from foam and then burlap them. Decoy Flocking Kits allow you to minimize glare, creating a realistic look from the sky. I may try it out on a cheapo and bust it open to see the results. Base coat of uv mallard paint. Painting is a skill learned over time, so start simple and add more features as your skill increases.