Look what I found

A Michael Chase

Active member
We get shipments of supplies on Air Force 463L pallets designed for C-17 and C-130 aircraft. The pallets are aluminum and a “filler” sandwiched in the middle. A forklift damaged one the other day and peeled the top aluminum skin off revealing that the filler is balsa wood. Always being on the lookout for free carving material, I salvaged all this from the pallet. Unfortunately, it was glued to the aluminum skin so it broke out in chunks. The grain runs through the thickness but I think I can laminate several pieces end to end and come up with blocks large enough to get decoy bodies out of. I’ve already found some nice clear white cedar wood in a mine roller shipping crate and have carved a nice preener mallard head from it already. I’ve also found lots of tail insert and bottom boards in the scrap pile as well. My goal is to make a decoy or two from completely salvaged materials from Afghanistan. View attachment Balsa.JPG
I'll keep you posted as I progress
Mike
 
Nice find. Just gathering up materials can be fun.

Looking forward to seeing your progress on those "salvaged" birds.
 
My goal is to make a decoy or two from completely salvaged materials from Afghanistan.


Mike,

That would certainley be a memorable and priceless decoy. I wish you the best in accomplishing your goal and a safe return home.
 
Don't worry Tom, they won't be too smooth. But I do want to use that sanding cloth you sent me. Man, that's some good stuff. I've always just used cheap'o stuff from Wal-Mart and it doesn't last long.

Mike
 
After you glue and stack those pieces of balsa, you may want to secure them somehow so that the pieces don't slide out of place before the glue dries. I've had that happen with cork before, so now I temporarily pin them together while the glue dries.
 
Here's the blocks after I cut them into sections. I only have Gorilla Glue so it's going to have to work. I think I will actually use a center board with integrated keel on this one that way there is good solid hardwood for the head and tail insert to anchor to.

View attachment Balsa Gluing.JPG

Mike.
 
When I viewed your post before I was unable to see the picture of that head you made. It looks nice! I like the detail on the bill.
 
Thanks John. Posting pictures here is an arduous multi-step process due to connectivity and bandwidth. I'll get more posted as time and technology allow.

Mike
 
Great stuff Mike.

Some of the best decoys come from salvaged materials. I'm looking forward to your next installment here.

-D
 
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