Thick meat sandwich decoy

[Goldfish]

I messed up today. Krylon matte clear in the spray can, which I was going to seal the wood with, or tried to should say, doesn't mesh well with foam...

[Rick]

Yarch! All that work and then an atomic melt down. I'd cry.

[Goldfish]

They aren't totally toast, just annoying that I need to add more putty when they were pretty much ready to be restle coated and painted

[Goldfish]

Restle coating is pretty easy.

Water down some glue, but go slowly with the water because it thins quickly

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[Goldfish]

Brush it all over the decoy

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[Goldfish]

Dump saw dust all over

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[Goldfish]

Repeat multiple times

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Then wait for it to dry (I saw suggested 8 hours, I'm waiting till tomorrow), repeat at least once more, then dry, then paint.

[Goldfish]

Oh, I did learn something. Find a way to do this so that either A: you can let whatever side of the decoy is wet to dry before serting it on something, or B: make pointy holders for your decoys so there is less touching them while they dry. Some of the restle coating came off with the rocks I had them propped up on to dry

[Rick]

And I still can't get up the gumption/nerve just to repaint some plastic ones. You guys who make them, embarrass me.

[Goldfish]

Repaints into divers are easy as pie. Start there. Or just follow the lines that are already on the decoy to just repaint them I guess is probably easier. Divers you just only need black and white pretty much.

For the second coat I did take the paint brush to the decoy first to knock off all the loose saw dust. Also, it takes a lot of glue for the second coat because of it soaking into what's already on the bird. Probably double the first coat.

[Goldfish]

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Threw a final coat of just glue on the birds last weekend and let them set to dry. If I have time this weekend I'll try to get to painting, but I'm not sure I will.

[Goldfish]

No paint, but getting the keels on

[DukMan]

They look great! I was thinking about carving a few foamers when I find some free time. I was planning to do burlap and mastic but I like the glue and sawdust look better.

[Goldfish]

If/when I do more, the final coat I'll use only fine saw dust, not like I did with these where there is lots of fibers. Makes them pretty stabbyish

[Goldfish]

Slowly getting it all done. Drew out the paint lines. Hopefully tomorrow I'll block in the base colors. I know that one is all wood, but that's my first decoy that'll get painted up with all the others

[Goldfish]

Getting there

[Goldfish]

2 down, and the buffie painted.

[Goldfish]

The final one. I don't know which was more difficult to paint, all the feathers on the teal, or all the colors on this guy.

[DukMan]

Those teal are impressive in my book... I'm finally getting to a place where I can start doing a little whittling... I scored some bass wood from a neighbors who lost it in a wind storm and I'm told that make for good carving... so we will see.

Any tips starting out?

[Goldfish]

Seal the ends of the wood with something, and let it sit for a long time to dry otherwise it'll split on you

[aunt betty]

Seal the ends of the wood with something, and let it sit for a long time to dry otherwise it'll split on you

Titebond 3.


Now to "criticize". First...wow that's cool and I like it. Nice work.

On the other hand: Of course I've bought many dozens of Flambeaus. Many of my decoys were basically gathered for free from people who left their spreads out on public where it's not legal. Hunt over them once and they're yours because if you don't remove them you could be fined for not removing them despite the fact that other people's names are on them. I've found entire bags full and also pairs and singles. Seems kind of devilish but it's the law and man's law shall be followed too according to the bible.


Wait til I die and you'll be able to buy betty's decoys for a song.