Need advice on a decoy

Will M

Will M

Active member
I know this is a strange question but... any ideas on how to remove flocking from a cork decoy? I recently picked up a bunch of stony hill black duck decoys that were in great condition save a few spots needing touch up paint and one minor bill repair, all simple stuff i think I can handle. One decoy though, for what ever reason, is almost entirely covered in flocking. Any ideas on how to remove the flocking and the underlying glue? I was thinking just sanding it but I'm not sure that will remove it all from the voids in the cork. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
 
Someone on here will likely have a better response, but you could try liberally brushing on mineral spirits and rubbing it off. Many people use rustoleum instead of glue for the flocking. It's very effective. It should also dissolve with mineral spirits and elbow grease and the cork should be no worse for wear.

If they used some kind of glue for the flocking, this probably will not work (but maybe it will, never tried it!).
 
Bill,

Do you do that when reflow king decoys? I want to remove and just have paint. I feel like painting over the flocking would leave the texture
 
Good morning, Will~

I have never tried to remove flocking from any decoys, but, it seems the 3 options are mechanical (sanding), chemical (paint stripper) or heat (heat gun or propane torch). Since you describe the voids being filled, any of these sound like lots of work. Paint stripper might be your best choice - but it's always pretty messy.

I would be tempted to experiment with each approach on a small section of the bird. I would probably lean toward the torch in the hopes that it would harden the flocking/paint mixture in the voids and "bubble" out. I'd work a few square inches at a time - DEFINITELY OUTSIDE TO AVOID THE FUMES ! - and always have a rag ready to pat down any flames. You do not want to turn the cork into charcoal.

Hope this help! (and, I'd love to see a step-by-step post....)

SJS

 
Bill- I think I want to remove the flocking entirely. It's only one decoy that has it on it and I want them all to appear similar.

Steve- I will post some pictures and my findings when I complete the project. Just need to pick some mineral spirits when I get a chance
 
Something to consider may be the brush on paint and varnish remover sold in hardware stores. The last I used on a wood project worked great. Shouldn,t bother the cork but I would test a small area first.
 
Will, heat , fumes, etc are an issue as stated earlier. flocking is usually nylon and will give off some toxic fumes when burned as will oil based paint. Heat will work though. I have stripped allot of paint off bunch of different stuff, thick paint is the most resistant, and flocking is usually 2 coats due to the fuzzy nap of the flock it will be thick. the best results we got were with safest stripper by 3M $14.00/gal. at ace hardware, citrus based, its a thick milky fluid you paint on and let sit. It cut 5 layers of paint off an old picnic table for us. then you scrub it with a stiff bristle brush or 3m pad and your decoy should be clean fairly easy. do a second spot coat for any leftover paint in cracks etc. water clean up, inside or out. way better than mineral spirits. Frank
 
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