June - Whats on your workbench?

Brandon Yuchasz

Well-known member
Since no one has started the thread yet I had to do some digging and find a few pictures to post up.

After such a long winter every spring is such a welcome site we spend quite a bit of time outside bird watching and just generally enjoying the fact that the snow and ice is melting. Last spring my kids really got a kick out of the Goldeneyes in the breeding poses. "broken necks". So I guess you could say I got inspired to carve a pair for us to do some birdwatching over this spring. Probably my favorite pair of decoys I have done so far. I made a point of burning into the bottom that they were a matched pair.

You guys will have to humor me a little bit I took a lot of pictures on my outings with them last month. I guess you will have to forgive me for posting them this month instead of last but its spring time so we are outside not inside editing and posting pictures.

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They seemed to be liked by more then just me. I will admit the pictures were taken over two separate days one of which I got to spend with just my daughter and myself. It was a morning I wont soon forget.

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Lots more on my bench but I have been spending every moment outside with the kids and wife so I don't know how much I will have to show this month. Depends how much It rains I guess.

Whats one your guys and gals workbenches in June?
 
Brandon, The breeding pose looks awesome. Apparently the birds are thinking the same. Some really nice pictures you took of your decoys ,and the bird decoying.
Not a decoy but here's what I am working on. I did a job for a man last week that is a big bow hunter. After talking a bit he gave me some pieces of orange Osage to make a bow. So I got busy this morning with the draw knife, and got one roughed out.



I am also trying to make a mottled duck.

 
Brandon~

Great birds - beautiful shapes and paint on both. And a great day afield with one of my favorite species. I think you have inspired me to make a Highhead Whistler for my Scooter rig next winter.

All the best,

SJS
 
Here are a few more photos of my "Swap" bird - a Black Duck made from cork that might be some old material from Wiley's (I hope!). I had the head carved and painted for 2 or 3 years - and I sawed out the body at the same time. The cork came from a friend so I do not know when it was made or where it came from. I finally flattened the body a bit and then fastened (5" deck screw) the head after I oiled and burned it. I then learned about the need to seal newer (post-Wiley) white/tan cork. So, there is no warranty expressed or implied once this bird sees long-term use.

I call him "Slick Willie" because that linseed oil is leaving a nice sheen on the Hemlock Swamp - should help to dampen any heavy seas....

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Here he is back in the portrait studio, starboard side:

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Here is the port side - you can see the flat keel. This bird will not self-right but it will maintain its trim when the tide runs off the mudflat.

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The keel is 3/4-inch cypress. The ends are rounded and beveled and all of the corners are knocked off with a plane and sandpaper to avoid chafe.

I used a waterproof PL construction adhesive (as an alternative to my usual 3M 5200 on corkers) for both the head and the keel. The inside of the 3/8-inch anchor line hole was sealed with linseed oil and primer with a cotton swab.

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Here is a detail on the head paint. You can pretty much see every brush stroke.

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Here is the view from the bow.

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All the best,

SJS
 
Brandon-that whistler looks fantastic! I really like the way it sits in the water. Steve, the detail on the head of your black duck is awesome.
I finally finished up my first wood decoy-a bluebill with a hollow cypress body and balsa head. It's nowhere in the league of any of you other guys but it will do for a gunner. I found out the hard way that Cypress is a poor carving wood, but it was cheap and I can use the rest for boat projects. I have a nice slab of 12/4 basswood and another of 10/4 white pine in the shop now that will keep me busy this summer. Can't wait to see everyone's work this month!
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Cody, nice first bird!

I don't have pics to show at present, but I have a 4 bird rig of flattie ringnecks in process.

John
 
Nice blackduck Steve, Simple and undoubtedly effective. I also really like how you made the keel. Most of my cork puddlers for my own rig I leave without a keel for both ability to sit right on the mud once the water goes out from under them, and they dance much nicer in a small breeze. Your way accomplishes the same idea with a little more of a solid base for the screw used for the leather to bite..and I can get my brand on them!
 
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Bill~

Your Facebook page is certainly worth the visit. I think you and I were both bitten by the Joseph Lincoln bug when it comes to paint patterns. They are all gorgeous birds but that 'Squaw is just sublime - beautiful curves all around!

All the best,

SJS
 
Steve, that is an outstanding technique to paint the head feathers for a black, or,for that matter, any hen head! It imparts great detail with a minimum number of brush strokes. What brushes did you use?

Also,if you apply an oil matte spar,thinned with mineral spirits, one or two coats should seal and penetrate that Wiley cork body well and not amp-up the sheen factor...
 
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RL~

I'm glad you enjoyed the paint job. The base coat (that indescribable Black Duck face color somewhere between a tan and a grey) is blended with black/dark brown around the back and toward the top of the head. Once the base is fully dry, I put the markings on with very thin paint. I use a round brush, # 4 or 5. I put all of the dark markings on first - shorter near the bill and longer as I work my way back and down to the neck, trying to give each line a little wiggle. I add the lighter color (dirty white/pale grey) to make the markings "pop" and to give some added depth.

This approach has always worked well for gunners. It takes just a few minutes per bird - but is worth the time to me - I like the bird to fool me a gunshot away and still have appeal when I pick up the rig.

And thanks for the ideas about sealing the cork.

All the best,

SJS
 
Steve, by the looks of that keel, you spent some time with Al Mccormick on the Island.
 
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Dave, I like the black duck, looks nice!

I finished up a pair recently, not decoys but a display piece.

"Over The Limit"


 
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Steve, Love the flow on the black duck head.
Jode, Incredible
DHughes, Nice looking black duck. I'm working on a mottled duck I hope it comes out half as nice as yours.
 
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