November Workbench

MLBob Furia

Well-known member
[size 4] An old friend has been gracious enough to arrange a bird hunting trip down south in December, and we will have the opportunity to gun some private land for waterfowl, pheasant, and quail over the course of the stay. I'll be traveling down with one of my long-time, local gunning buddies and bringing my dog as well.

Starting last month, and into this one, I began work on a box of pickleweed silhouettes that will be a gift for the friend arranging this wonderful trip. Here is the "before" picture of the box that these pickleweeds will eventually be housed in:


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Here's what it's shaping up as after the addition of some hand-painted remarques:




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I've added dividers inside to accommodate 2 boxes of shells and seven mallard silhouettes. Also installed some hardwood "racks" in the lid that hold the stakes for the sillys.

Working on painting the silhouettes this week.



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On another note, I did another pair of inlaid calls using some of that wonderfully figured salt-cedar from Al Hansen. These will go to our host at a plantation we will be gunning/staying at during the trip. Should be quite the adventure for this old Ohio River Rat.





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Off to a good start for the Thankful month.

It all looks good Bob. The patina on the box is very good.

Hope ya have a enjoyable hunt down south. Tough to beat waterfowl, pheasants, and quail (the best eating bird God put one earth IMO).





Have been working on this sign for a donation. Hopefully it will be finished, and in the mail later this month.


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[size 4] Thanks Vince. Always enjoy your segues into flat-work. Someone will display that proudly.

Will look into a nice copper or brass oval engraved with the recipient's initials to add to the box lid.
 

Gentlemen thank you for the kind words, they are much appreciated


Even though I do not hunt waterfowl as much as I used to, and would like to.

It is impossible for me to get the the lifestyle, and all that goes with it out of my mind, heart, and soul.

So I just keep on pluggin' away.


Best regards
Vince
 

Bob -

I sure would like to see the interior of the gunning box. Cuz I know that the craftsmanship is first rate. Could be yer saving that to show us later on.[;)]

Is the name plate going to be aged just so, to fit the patina?

The recipient will no doubt be flabbergasted by your generous artistic gesture. He has himself a family heirloom there indeed.


Best regards
Vince
 
To the "old?" River Rat---I can hardly wait for that trip that you will be going to. That should be quite the story and I will be ready to read it. I know you will have fun and enjoy every second especially since you can also take your pup along. That project is a wonderful work of art. A perfect case to hold the essentials.
Al
 
Vince Pagliaroli said:
I sure would like to see the interior of the gunning box. Cuz I know that the craftsmanship is first rate. Could be yer saving that to show us later on.[;)]

Vince


[size 4] Vince,

As requested, here is a picture of where the inside stands right now: The blaze orange tips at the top of each stake became a lesson I learned when using my own pickle weeds. It's pretty easy to lose sight of a stake in the marsh-grass after you have slid the pickleweed off it when picking up at the end of the day , but that orange tip makes it pretty difficult to do so . Shell compartment will hold 3" boxes if needed, but I've never felt the need to go above 2 3/4" for either ducks or geese.



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Here are the mallard pickleweeds that will stack in the compartment to the right. There is plenty of "depth" to project a convincing 3-D look, so I'm pretty sure the paint job has "stopped in an interesting place." Of course, that depends if I decide that it might be fun to add some other detail that would please me , but make absolutely no difference to the ducks.[;)]



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I'll stop in at the local trophy/engraving shop and see what materials they have whose patinas best fits the lid ..... that or do a little research on what it would take to artificially age what they do have.
 
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Bob -

Good utilization of the interior space, and the patina matches the exterior.

Blaze orange tips on the stakes is a very good idea. I may have to barrow that one from you...

Looks like the pickle weeds will do their intended job, and only get better with use.

Gunning boxes are a wonderful, and historic addition to any waterfowlers tools of the trade.

That's a good one.


Best regards
Vince
 
Dave

Where are you getting all these heads? Did you start making them? Maybe you mentioned in the past but I don't recall.
 
The Herters I have been commissioned, were supplied. I prepped, primed, and painted them. The Whistlers are Homer heads, I have a dealer agreement with them. Additionally, I have made silicone molds of the Herters 63 heads, 6 species in all and am casting them solid in Smooth-on Feather Lite.
 
Thank you Steve! These sail feathers are made from leather. I typically use leather on birds that will be hunted and Hardwood inserts on decoys that will live on a shelf.
 
Finished carving this mini pintail for the mini decoy swap. And also finished this half life-sized mallard that a coworker wanted for a present to someone

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Also my 6 year has been wanting to paint a duck and so he asked me if he could have a mini canvas Brant I made a while back that was primed. I showed him some pictures and drew some lines and let him go at it. I mixed the paint for him and told him where to apply it, he done right well just had to guide him on some of the straight lines.

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Thank you Steve!
I hope I don't mess it up when I paint it, it's intimidating to paint a pintail
 
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