Subscribe to OL+ for our best feature stories and photography. And they can tell the difference. 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. 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. First, drive the -inch conduit into the ground until sturdy. We create working decoys of style, character and durability that will be worthy of passing down to the next generation. Wrap a layer of burlap over the foam. 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. My wife had the decoy in the blind, so as soon as she stepped out she was covered up by the silhouette of the decoy. I have never used any two part foam to make decoys, I carve mine from foam and then burlap them. I am considering . Comments on this site are submitted by users and are not endorsed by nor do they reflect the views or opinions of COLE Publishing, Inc. UpDate 3 on the "MINI" ScoterZillias: Something new, something different for the 2020-2021 Special Seaduck Hunting Season here in Maryland Seaduck Duck Hunt. Be like shooting any other foam filled decoy. With a roughed-out or cutout kit, most of this work has been done for you. Cool you put some thought into it cant wait to see finished product. Learn More Spring By | Using mostly garage or shop items, most carving newbies have everything they need already, keeping initial investments to a minimum. Dixie Decoys, LLC is proudly owned by an active duty Marine. 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. 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. 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. | I've got guys I've helped making some pretty incredible stuff after just a few months. Chuck was a great friend and unfortunately passed away a few years ago. Cut a keel from the furring strip and epoxy in place. 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. For the stake, use. 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. Hardens nicely and makes them very durable. Join PopSci+ to read sciences greatest stories. 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. I redid an aluminum boat couple years back and tried replacing the floatation foam. (3) $54.99. I like it! Carve a duck head from the basswood or find a plastic head online. Thats awesome man. Can patch the hole in the head with apoxie sculpt if you want or just shape the foam. I'm with Wildlifer about the foam though. Thats why the current craze in decoysfield-ready taxidermy mountstrumps any store-bought foam decoy. We did the molded decoy thing, but quickly grew out of that and progressed into carving decoys out of foam and wood. 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. Use black and white spray paint to give the decoy a convincing color scheme. Once dry and set, we started the painting process. I started the heads while the mastic and burlap were setting, coating them in ultra-flat black, and hitting the beaks with flat white. Learn More . A forum community dedicated to duck hunters and hunting enthusiasts. Most of the difficulty in making your own hand carved foamer decoys is in the knowing how, you can find that at ded outdoors. This decoy, which sits on a foam-filled base, sprays water to create ripples and also simulates a mallard drake stretching its wings. 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. Sanding can really make features stand out by creating sharp, precise transitions. 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. Every Heyday Decoy comes with a pair of UpRight weights which can be installed into the bottom of each decoy. We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Homer Decoys are designed and built to last a lifetime and withstand the harshest of hunting conditions. For many waterfowlers, carving their own duck decoys is something they have contemplated but never put into action. We set the decoys in a warm well ventilated area, and let them set and dry for 48 hours. No external heat source is required when making decoys of this material. M.D. 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. Then, skin the turkey out. I put coat of titbeond 3 on the foam, and a few sifted coats of sawdust. [2] Drill four 1/8-inch holes in the butt end. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission, which supports our community. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. It is still plenty workable as it starts to expand. Plus, every Heyday decoy is painted in a photorealistic manner based on aerial images taken of real ducks. A real gobbler fan costs nothing and packs easilyand can be as effective as the full-blown fake. Give 'em the ol' Texas trash bag treatment. Cut a keel from the furring strip and epoxy in place. I am looking at buying molds for making my own foam decoys. Save money by making your own waterfowl decoys. Published Apr 3, 2012 11:50 PM EDT, We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Start by taking off small amounts of material, remembering that once it comes off, it cant be replaced. Ended up turning out pretty well. Its a simple task, but these holes really bring a decoy head to life and allow carving to commence. 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. After the glue and dust harden. With over 20 years making decoys the hard way we understand what is it takes to create and make a durable economically priced foam duck decoy the right way. Step 1. For acrylic painting, anything from exterior house paints to craft-store tube paints can be used, mixed and intermingled, making them a great choice. Hunting. Ask Gabe Jerome. 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. 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. Model: 69070. Johnson It can be a challenge,. Dixie Decoys FrogSkin Timber Camo 1/4 Zip. Come join the discussion about safety, gear, tips, tricks, optics, hunting, gunsmithing, reviews, reports, accessories, classifieds, and more! If you like easy, simply plunk down a credit card at a major sporting goods store for a Turkey Skinz. Keels can be attached with screws and glue or just screws alone, but should be left off until the bottom of the decoy has been primed with paint. Drape Cape If you like easy, simply plunk down a credit card at a major sporting goods store for a Turkey Skinz. Most of the difficulty in making your own hand carved foamer decoys is in the knowing how, you can find that at ded outdoors. 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. Here are five waterfowl decoys for divers, dabblers, and geese that you can make yourself. Like I said I have never made any decoys with it but I think it should work just fine. Carved from foam. Laying out decoys properly is imperative to the finished product actually looking like a duck. 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. Decoy Flocking Kits allow you to minimize glare, creating a realistic look from the sky. Here are step-by-step instructions for how. Published Jul 7, 2020 1:46 PM EDT. If you have been hunting long enough you probably have some old decoys laying around. Once the head is nearly complete, using Apoxie Sculpt, set the eyes and then finish smoothing the head and blending transitions. Start by attaching the head to the body in a predetermined location by using a screw or screws and some wood glue. I may try it out on a cheapo and bust it open to see the results. What makes HEYDAY decoys unique is the HydroFoam construction. 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. 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. If you have a streak of Bob Vila in you, then this next option might be more your style. Once the pattern is ready, trace it onto the decoy and carefully start cutting off excessive material with a band saw. Think about a Croc that you can hunt over. 1st coat of titbeond 3 and sifted sawdust. A single 1/4" hole under the tail feathers. Wrap a layer of burlap over the foam. If you want to use the mold you made it will either need mold release or to be super smooth. Join PopSci+ to read sciences greatest stories. Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made. JavaScript is disabled. Here are several options to save you cash, yet give you the astonishing results a feathered decoy can offer. Next, join the 10-foot sections of conduit using the butt-end connector. 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. Please enable JavaScript to view the comments. |, 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. I went back on my old foam decoy thread and realized I never did a step by step like you mentioned in that thread. Spring gobblers acute vision is legendary. Draw a line around the center of the duck decoy. That way you can save your hard-earned cash for all that ammo youre going to need this season. And, even with the weights, a Heyday Decoy is still lighter than a traditional decoy. By Our decoys are proudly manufactured in a small community located in Piqua, Ohio from recycled materials and sold in Conowingo, Maryland. Extra Features. 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. 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. Extremely lightweight, flexible, and portable. Stand-still. If you have any questions just shoot me a PM. Finally, take your favorite decoy and adhere your dry skin to the outside using an all-weather adhesive such as Gorilla Glue. Our mission is to inspire the preservation of the sporting tradition. Youre almost finished. Thread starter jeffc; Start date Apr 6, 2018; Apr 6, 2018 #1 J. jeffc Senior Refuge Member. Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service. Trim the flesh and fat, being sure to remove the milky-white oil glands. Great stuff is open celled foam and will eventually absorb water no matter how you cover it up. Joined May 14, 2001 Messages 540 Reaction score 160 Location Chillicothe, MO. How-to: Laminate the foam boards into a duck-sized block and start carving until it resembles the shape of a resting bird. Drape Cape I want to start building a foam decoy spread and steadily replace my plastic decoys with them as I get groups of them completed. 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 Be sure that the parting line is drawn along the exact center of the decoy. Multiple positions; contented, feeding and breeding. Sunday is gonna be good. It should be dry and ready for Steps 2 and 3 in two weeks. Dixie Decoys FrogSkin Camo Timber Neck Gaiter $19.99. Feb 3, 2019 - Explore Colin Davis's board "Foam decoy carving" on Pinterest. 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. | Web: https://homerdecoys.com, 2023 | Homer Decoys | All Rights Reserved. 2. I am trying to think about the time it will take to get the top placed on the mold. Blending coats and white. Having the same tin soldier look in a spread can leave it looking lifeless, we call it a "dead spread". Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service. It may not display this or other websites correctly. Ask 10 different carvers what type or brand of paint they use and you will get 10 different answers. 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. Of Decoy Flocking Kits in the USA. This story was originally featured on Outdoor Life. This site also has many instructional articles to help sort things out, should you get stuck. Decoy kits include items to create high quality work. JavaScript is disabled. At the point it's still pourable but you don't have much time left. Homer Decoys are proudly manufactured in a small community located in Piqua, Ohio. :thumbsup: I've also seen the $3 regular spray can foam from Walmart used. 1. If you run gang rigs and one sinks no biggie its attached to the line. You would probably still want to burlap the finished product just for extra durability. Actual Hen image printed on to durable 3DFoam. JavaScript is disabled. When working with the two part foam, how long does it take to start expanding. | http://workingdecoys.net/workingdecoysforum/index.php, Shotshell, Reloading, Ballistics, & Chokes. Published Aug 28, 2012 12:09 AM EDT, We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Dixie Decoys Utility Pants $39.99 $79.99. Join F&S+ to read exclusive stories by your favorite writers. Subscribe to OL+ for our best feature stories and photography. Michael R. Shea The foam expands and seals, deterring moisture (which can create mold) and pests from eating through your walls. Homemade duck decoys can be painted to attract different varieties of ducks. Once it's mixed you'll have a few minutes before it starts to go. Because the HydroFoam material itself floats, and because it's so durable, weight is further reduced by hollowing out the entire decoy body. Because these weights are positioned both low and wide, they make the decoys self-righting every time and offer maximum decoy stability in extreme weather conditions. Our SmoothMove Dual Keels on the bottom of the decoy creates less resistance in the water for better decoy movement and allows our decoys to sit flat in a field application or on ice. Chris Philpot [2] Drill four 1/8-inch holes in the butt end. Once you get the amounts dialed in you should be able to mix and pour and have it out of the mold in 30 minutes or so. Its just $1 per month . They also clean up with water, making them easier to deal with, and mistakes can be easily wiped away. Mark Kayser Once the head and body are carved to your liking, it is time to fit them together for final blending/finishing. Whether you're hunting duck or goose, we've got decoys for both. Subscribe to OL+ for our best feature stories and photography. Just as silo decoys can create a sense of motion, so can multiple poses in decoys. Power is provided by a rechargeable battery with a run time of up to 12 hours. These five homemade decoys are perfect for the waterfowler on a budget. www.foamdecoys.com Wrap a layer of. Retail price is approximately $45. wide instead of 1/8 in. Another advantage of Heyday's HydroFoam construction is the fact that, unlike plastic, the foam allows for dimensional, carved-in detail. 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. Can patch the hole in the head with apoxie sculpt if you want or just shape the foam. Thanks. Just $1 per month . The mold only cost about $12 to make and the cans of spray should give 1.5 or more decoys per can and each can was less than $4. I plan to burlap these before painting and will attach a small keel just for a little weight. Email: [emailprotected] This texturing creates realistic shadowing for a more natural looking decoy. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission, which supports our community. Though I'll stick to carving mine from the foam shipping blocks tsc gives me. [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. Hard high-tech composition decoys. Retail price is approximately $45. Step 1: Preparation Whether cork, wood or even foam, the tooling list for most decoy medias remains consistent. The decoy doesn't move, making it slightly less appealing to real crows than motorized ones. Slowly and meticulously, begin separating the skin from the meat. 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. Foam board; A realistic 13"x17" strutting tom picture; Two 1/4" wooden dowels; Gorilla glue/X-treme Elmer's glue; . If you are interested I may be able to get the diver mold I used back and loan it out. Base coat of uv mallard 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. Cut a keel from the furring strip and epoxy in place. Turkeys dig them. With over 20 years making decoys the hard way we understand what is it takes to create and make a durable economically priced foam duck decoy the right way. It doesnt matter if its a gobbler or a hen; just make sure its legal. You can attempt to keep the wings attached to the entire skin or remove them prior to skinning. 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. Primos Photoform Leading Hen Decoy. (2) No chipping or peeling. The Fool 'Em Finish - yet another reason Heyday's lifetime duck decoys work so well. 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. In the past I have used a hot glue gun to patch holes with limited success. 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. 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. A video teaching you how to burlap foam decoys. 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. Shave down the decoy equally on both side and use calipers to ensure dimensions are duplicated on both sides of the decoy. We are proud to be the official decoy of GameWay Farms. http://www.amazon.com/Pourable-Flotatio B0047R4AQW, Shotshell, Reloading, Ballistics, & Chokes. Just let them drain and fill the holes with a squirt from a hot glue gunIf you are really OCD drill out the hole a little bigger to remove the rattling shot, that can be a game in itself :lol3: .Just a warning, that 2 part expansion foam is an absolute mess. For a more pleasing look on the water, the decoy should be rounded at the bottom, starting up about 2 inches from the bottom. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Cut one end at a 45-degree angle so you can easily drive it into the ground. For the stake, use an 18-inch length of 3/4-inch PVC pipe. Moisture can seep in, leading the wood to expand. Cut along the underbelly, making a slit from the anus to where the feathers end just below the beak. 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. Michael R. Shea/ Outdoor Life 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. The Fora platform includes forum software by XenForo. 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. Pretty Crafty there. Published Mar 8, 2010 9:02 AM EST, We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Pretty neat project Henry! This ready-to-use cured skin wraps around most foam decoys to give any faux bird the look of a shimmering, fully feathered hen or gobbler. Designers and DIY . Not long. It is much harder, thus more durable. For true blanks, start by either drawing your own pattern or using one from a decoy pattern book. Learn More . wide). BB - one of the best canvas decoy makers our state has ever known was Dr. Chuck May out of Murrells Inlet. The goal is to have an all foam spread within two years. While you're at it pick up some self hardening clay - the kind that will harden without needing to be heated in an oven. These decoys are great for hunting crows, but many people use them in their backyards and gardens. You will see it change from an amber brown to a light yellow. Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made. For the waterfowler on a budget, these 5 decoys you can easily be made at home. Decoys can also be textured using a comb and some gesso, should that look be desired. 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. Gee String Haven't done it myself but a hunting buddy hasn't had any problems with it. Place one pin through the base of the tail and one each through the middle of the quills of the left- and rightmost feathers. Painting is a skill learned over time, so start simple and add more features as your skill increases. [1] Remove the entire fan by cutting around the fleshy base of the tail. Tighten securely and wrap joint. Next comes the tricky part. While its still wet, sprinkle 20 Mule Team Borax liberally over the skin and let dry for a minimum of two weeks. The splashing element, created by a hidden bilge pump, is adjustable via control flaps. You can also pour lead into holes drilled into the bottom to help the decoy self-right, or attach a lead weight to help accomplish this task. Pour salt or borax onto the butt end to preserve the fan. This ready-to-use cured skin wraps around most foam decoys to give any faux bird the look of a shimmering, fully feathered hen or gobbler. Thanks for the information.
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