What's on your WORK BENCH ? - JANUARY 2021

Steve Sanford

Well-known member
Good morning, All~


I hope everyone enjoyed a safe and happy holidays - and are now back at it, either afield or in the shop.


I wrapped up a few decoy projects and just hauled another vessel into the shop.


These Bean Whistlers are ready-to-hunt. I will wrap up my separate post on these birds later.


View attachment DD Whistlers - Five on hay - closer.JPG



This Herter's Model Superior Bluebill Hen was in the same bag.


View attachment Herters Superior Hen - oblique.JPG



These birds all arrived with Dave Diefenderfer shortly after Thanksgiving. This old LL Bean Mallard came along for the ride. I am fairly certain he was made by George Soule - perhaps in the 1950s?



View attachment 1 Preener 02.JPG



He had been seriously wounded along his starboard chine....reconstructive surgery was needed.



View attachment 2 Preener 11.JPG



The non-original (too narrow and un-painted) keel and the athwartships groove suggest to me that he was returned to service after life as a lamp.


View attachment 3 Preener 09.JPG



The lamp cord groove was teamed with a hole bored straight down through his back.


View attachment 4 Preener 08.JPG



My vision for this bird was not to gun over him - but to respect his antique status and return him to a condition comparable to what he might have been had he never been pressed into the (ignoble) Illumination Service.


View attachment 5 Soule 01 port profile.JPG



He came to me as an "in-use re-paint" - so I did not try to make him appear as if he had his original George Soule finery.


View attachment 6 Soule 03 Head closeup.JPG



He now has a keel much like his original would have been - and no grooves or holes from his life-as-a-lamp.


View attachment 7 Soule 05 Bottom.JPG


He will live his days on a shelf - but could certainly hunt again if he so desires....


View attachment 8 Soule 08 - Outside portside.JPG



All the best,


SJS



 
I can?t add anything duck or boat related once again. Have spent the last 8 months overseeing a major demolition and renovation of a portion of the farmhouse and then some woodworking to complete the honey-do list. They are finally done and worthy of presentation. In the spirit of Steve?s well house and Dani?s bobwhite condominium.... a handmade barn door constructed and installed to hide the remodeled laundry room



View attachment EDAB56B3-62B7-41F8-92C9-7AFBFA8B679D.jpeg


And And a built-in bookcase/display case. With a nice cherry main shelf.

View attachment C5CD865A-6C00-4193-9FDA-D64EB2586C48.jpeg
 


Finished up my gaddy deadmount tableau during Christmas week, but waited for the New Year to post it.

One of the best photos in my reference collection for this piece was a picture that Eric's son Thomas had taken of a very nice gadwall. It provided a lot of good info:



View attachment Gaddyhang (2).jpg

Decided to go with a simpler background for this piece, some barn-siding I had in the "wood library" for the framed panel, a cut nail and leather lace to hang the bird from, and a copy of the 1949 (my birth year) hunting regs tucked into the corner. The little pocket reference of that year's regulations was given to me by a friend who picked it up in an antique shop. Its got an ad for "DuraDuck" inflatable decoys on the back and all the '49 season dates listed by flyway & state on the inside.

Here's the completed tableau:




View attachment IMGP5548 (2).JPG View attachment IMGP5551 (2).JPG



View attachment IMGP5559 (3).JPG



View attachment IMGP5562 (2).JPG



View attachment IMGP5565 (2).JPG
 
Last edited:
Brad~


Gorgeous work on both projects!


I especially envy/feel embarrassed by your shelving. Our "library" has a motley assortment of shelving and tables along the wall that is supposed to have about 16 lineal feet of custom shelving and cabinetry. - pretty much floor to ceiling. It has never gotten further than the "in-my-head" design stage. Your including the Cherry shelf is a grand idea. I will be felling some Black Cherry - and a dying Butternut - in a month or so. I'm thinking I'll have them sawn to 5/4 boards with such a shelf in mind.


All the best,


SJS

 
Great work, Bob!


Nice execution - and great choices on the display.


I notice you kept the tail feathers supported by a full fan - and paint rather than cut in each feather tip. Smart idea! I'm guessing that, like me, you have probably learned the hard way how fragile such carving can be.


All the best,


SJS

 
Eric, nice find. I look forward to seeing it after you give it some love.

Thanks Steve. It was fun if you like casework. A lot of dados. I built it from paint grade Baltic birch with a yellow poplar face frame. The door is eastern sugar maple and western big leaf maple.

Bob, that gadwall looks great. I carved and painted one gadwall decoy as a retirement gift. I?m not planning on doing another. That paint job is a challenge.
 

Bob,

Your rendition of the drake Gadwall/Grey Duck turned out very good. The 1949 regs a fine touch.

Yer eyes, and painting hand deserve a rest after that project.

Put another project/challenge, "in da book".

Two Thumbs Up!


Best regards
Vince
 

DecoyMonsterMachine,

Man O Live! You have become "The Master" of fine cork gunning GWT decoys. No doubt about it IMO.

Between yer decoys, and the GWT posted on what's in the bag, there's a big smile on my face.

Grand birds & decoys in a wonderful small package.


Best regards
Vince
 
Eric,
Looks like you have a bit of a fun restoration project. Look forward to seeing them finished. Check out Paul Sellers video. I think you will enjoy it. He does a real time restoration on a Stanley Plane. I love his videos, very informative.

https://youtu.be/RYyV6IUpsYk
 
Brad, the bookcase is outstanding. I am jealous...

I know that Dave will be jealous cuz my workbench project is a cuter decoy than his new motion decoys. Though I bet his bedazzled decoy bags are drool worthy.

I made this decoy for Debby for Christmas for her yard. I made it from some left over plywood that I had and if I make another, it makes much more sense to use solid wood. Or perhaps plywood with no gaps. A lesson I learned but I had plenty of wood putty to fill the gaps.

Debby now wants a whole flock and her neighbor has been eyeing the flamingo with jealousy so if her bird disappears, there will be a suspect other than Dave to look at....

i-KRX2RkR-L.jpg

 
Dani, mind if I borrow the pattern. The pink will really standout in the snow. And beauty of a dead mount Bob.

Not sure if workbench is the best spot for this, and I did not see this as a stand-alone post either, but certainly thought both of these deserved a mention.
My son, Connor, made these in my shop off and on this fall whenever I was out. I know he has hours in each. They were presented to me on Christmas morning..... the fillet knife is an old sawzall blade and scrap of white oak and the mmbgf model is a single piece of juniper except ?furniture/seats? were added.
I had zero ability when I was eleven and I am happy see he has some.



View attachment EAB4DBE4-A257-4BA3-8CD3-2A0362040314.jpegView attachment F2C38458-5BF3-43B5-818C-1A66C22A83C6.jpeg
 
No worries Frank on borrowing the pattern. I took it off the internet from a picture and then blew it up to the right size. If you would like, I can post a picture of my pattern....
 
Steve, as usual your refurbs are as wonderful as inspiring. I do have a question for you, and other workers of cork. I'll put it in another post in a few minutes. As for the Stanley 62 clean up I plan on posting more about that project.

Bob, I find it really cool one of Thomas's ducks and pictures went into your latest work. What a beautiful piece. You are on a creative roll here lately. I can't wait to see what comes out of your shop next.

Brad, like you my projects aren't so much duck related as they are more an effort to clear the to-do list so I can get back to duck hunting related projects. I can tell over time you are taking on larger and more complicated projects, and succeeding. Your latest work looks tasteful and well thought out. Congratulations.

Pat, I look forward to seeing that bluewing complete. Question, do you make your own feathering irons I see in the picture to the left? That in and of itself looks like a neat project.

Zane, I'm ahead of you, Paul Sellers is the man when it comes to hand tool refurbishment and use. I too like his videos.

Frank, thanks, now I'm kicking myself for tossing sawzall blades. Obviously they lend themselves to knife blades too. Cool tool. If your son is already carving that level of detail and complexity at eleven he is truly a natural.

Dani, now that is a cute Flamingo. I bet Debby loves it. Neat project.

Eric
 
great work guys, we moved but I've finally got a work area half way put together and bandsaw ready to roll. Hope to start back soon.
 
Back
Top