Steve Sanford
Well-known member
All~
I have these 3 Greenwings and a dozen Black Ducks - all LL Bean Coastals - in the shop right now. The damage to these 3 is minor -but does allow me to show how I approach the eroded cork and other infirmities that need some attention to get them back into gunning condition.
Here are the 3 in BEFORE condition. The Drake is different from the Hens in construction details - not sure which are older.
View attachment Beans GWT 01 - 3 BEFORE.JPG
This Hen had the most erosion on her body - but all 3 birds had some.
View attachment Beans GWT 02 - Hen worst.JPG
The head was not loose - but that crack needs some care. And, the eyes are both missing.
View attachment Beans GWT 03 - Neck crack and missing eyes.JPG
These square-edged keels, although softwood, still pose a threat to new paint jobs on rigmates.
View attachment Beans GWT 04 - square keels.JPG
A few minutes with block plane, knife and 80-grit paper ease the offending edges. I also re-drill the anchor line holes with a 3/8-inch bit.
View attachment Beans GWT 05 - eased keel, cleaned line holes.JPG
Chines on any decoy made from black cork without a bottom board are especially vulnerable to wear.
View attachment Beans GWT 05B - eroded chine.JPG
The Drake's head is attached by a dowel that runs right down through the keel - where it is held with a screw and washer. The head attachment on the Hens is blind.
View attachment Beans GWT 05C - drake dowel detail.JPG
This Hen has gotten thickened epoxy pushed and spread into all voids - deep and shallow. I smoothed the wet epoxy as well as I could, then sprinkled fine sawdust over it.
View attachment Beans GWT 06 - filled Hen.JPG
Here's the Drake....
View attachment Beans GWT 06B - Drake headless but filled.JPG
Continued in next post....
SJS
I have these 3 Greenwings and a dozen Black Ducks - all LL Bean Coastals - in the shop right now. The damage to these 3 is minor -but does allow me to show how I approach the eroded cork and other infirmities that need some attention to get them back into gunning condition.
Here are the 3 in BEFORE condition. The Drake is different from the Hens in construction details - not sure which are older.
View attachment Beans GWT 01 - 3 BEFORE.JPG
This Hen had the most erosion on her body - but all 3 birds had some.
View attachment Beans GWT 02 - Hen worst.JPG
The head was not loose - but that crack needs some care. And, the eyes are both missing.
View attachment Beans GWT 03 - Neck crack and missing eyes.JPG
These square-edged keels, although softwood, still pose a threat to new paint jobs on rigmates.
View attachment Beans GWT 04 - square keels.JPG
A few minutes with block plane, knife and 80-grit paper ease the offending edges. I also re-drill the anchor line holes with a 3/8-inch bit.
View attachment Beans GWT 05 - eased keel, cleaned line holes.JPG
Chines on any decoy made from black cork without a bottom board are especially vulnerable to wear.
View attachment Beans GWT 05B - eroded chine.JPG
The Drake's head is attached by a dowel that runs right down through the keel - where it is held with a screw and washer. The head attachment on the Hens is blind.
View attachment Beans GWT 05C - drake dowel detail.JPG
This Hen has gotten thickened epoxy pushed and spread into all voids - deep and shallow. I smoothed the wet epoxy as well as I could, then sprinkled fine sawdust over it.
View attachment Beans GWT 06 - filled Hen.JPG
Here's the Drake....
View attachment Beans GWT 06B - Drake headless but filled.JPG
Continued in next post....
SJS