Another guy and I are thinking of putting together a little decoy carving get together later in the year. Zero plans/details yet but if you're a carver and want to come swap stories/methods/bad habits with other carvers, shoot me a PM with your full real name, and either an email address that you check more than once a week or (preferred) a cell # you text on.

Not a class, just a gathering. I'm only putting this up here because there is always a little chatter during season, and a lot of people drift away from the forum between seasons. I might be a week or two late, but thought I'd catch some of those stragglers.

PM sent

Where you thinking, Dave? Down in Austin?

PM Sent

I think it would be kewl.

Wal you should make a duplicator lathe and start building decoys.

Wal if your lathe is big enough there is actually a way to turn small oblong bodies (teal etc) without a duplicator....Dave knows I'm down for meeting up with some chip carvin folks!

I'm interested! I have nothing to bring to the table but it sounds like a great time. I have a lathe and would love to learn to turn wood body's I'll shoot you a pm with my info. I finished this one last month.

Did you turn that one?

That's blue foam. I haven't got into wood or cork yet, but it's in my future. I'm not looking to win any shows but I do want to gun over my own rig and not plastic decoys made in china.

Here is Captain Harry Jobes duplicator lathe.

some of his patterns

Very neat stuff! I'm pretty handy with my lathe I guess I can turn each piece as close as possible with out a duplicator. I just don't have any of the draw knives yet. I wish the north east coast wasn't so far there is a lot of great knowledge up that way. It's on the bucket list!

http://vincentidecoys.com/index.htm

I don't buy any gunners from this guy because he is way off on his price, but he sells all the paints and tools you need, plus there is some good how to video on his site

That's funny, I went through his website from top to bottom yesterday. I enjoyed his video of him painting that gadwall, not sure it's worth $165 though!

its not. Its worth $60

I have quite a bit of information about carving upper bay style deeks, how they carve their heads, attaching them, sanding etc. I even have plans for a slack belt sander and a cushion sander. However I'm realizing there is alot of decoy history right here in our own state.... Kinda interesting actually.

Definitely interesting.

Vinceti prices are way off and there site is difficult to boot.

Their*

I got to set down and visit for about 3 hours with Jimmy Pierce, wish I had recorded it He told me that in February right after duck season that all the next years orders came in to Madison Mitchells shop, and him and capt Harry and a few others spent two months just carving heads, then when the heads were carved they spent another two months turning, draw knifing, and sanding bodies. Then the quit because it was to hot and humid to paint. In October they would paint all the decoys. He said they would paint at night and do about 300 a night!

somebody find me one of those lathes!!

It isn't an ordinary lathe duplicator, even though it is called a lathe duplicator. http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=ei-Pzbz1AcY

This is what you really want.
http://www.wood-carver.com/ducksfish.html

The price list. http://www.wood-carver.com/unispecs.html

I think the "production" carvers like the Jobes, Bodt, Vincenti do cool stuff, it has its own vibe and I like them compared to plastics. I still can't imagine how they don't starve to death charging the low prices they do.

They use high tech duplicators, a big investment but properly set up they machine does most of the work. There is a violin maker I know, he has his set up to carve the necks, it even carves the fancy scrolls. Stick in 6 pieces of wood, your master and turn it on. Come back and the carving is finished. No telling what kind of equipment he has to do some of the finish work on them. It isn't CNC, but it works without a lot of supervision and s pretty fool proof.

Here is homemade duplicator and a place to order plans for it.
http://www.copycarver.com/history.htm