Handcrafted brant decoys

[pnbrock]

After restoring old fiberglass decoys, hunting over them and being successful I realized the true joy of hunting over something you created.

So when Ian F. offered to guide me through the process of learning how to carve my own hollowed out cedar decoys I jumped at the chance. Here's what I have so far, paint and final touches still to come.

Thank you so much Ian for your guidance, greatly appreciated

http://i581.photobucket.com/albums/ss260/Tipsbrock/Hancrafted%20decoys/IMG_0161_zpsf8bef41e.jpg (http://s581.photobucket.com/user/Tipsbrock/media/Hancrafted%20decoys/IMG_0161_zpsf8bef41e.jpg.html)

http://i581.photobucket.com/albums/ss260/Tipsbrock/Hancrafted%20decoys/photo_zpsb223b08f.jpg (http://s581.photobucket.com/user/Tipsbrock/media/Hancrafted%20decoys/photo_zpsb223b08f.jpg.html)

[nature girl]

You have done a great job so far.

[pnbrock]

thanks the painting will be the hard part for me, so I'm hoping the wife will take on the challenge :)

[kyleklassen]

those look great....you've been busy

[Steeleco]

You should see the pile of ceder he's yet to go through. They look better in the flesh.

[field marshal]

You're doing a great job kiddo?? Sounds like you will actually be shooting over your blocks?? Unlike some over here on the Island??
They just get used for window dressing!!!:confused:---Cheers---Field Marshal.

[lorneparker1]

Looks great man!

[Mr. Dean]

I'm impressed.

[pnbrock]

Don't worry marshal I will riddle one of them for a shot at a brant !!!

[kyleklassen]

look to be all cedar on cedar?...keels?

[pnbrock]

yes red cedar will add maple keels after paint.

[shotgunjohn]

Nice! They already look alive even without the paint.

[Ian F.]

Looking good young Jedi, looking good....

[Dutch]

Hey Pat can you carve with all that after bight on ,I'm still getting saline intravenously after all the blood I gave ,but they do look good maybe to nice...:)

[Moe.JKU]

Very nice, looks like they will work great. I found the joy of catching fish on something i tied i imagine it would be the same feeling.

[albravo2]

Very impressive carving. Very lifelike. Good luck with the painting.

[popsy]

Great job - have fun and success with them!!!

[pnbrock]

One step closer .....

http://i581.photobucket.com/albums/ss260/Tipsbrock/Brant%20painted%20black/brantpaintedblack_zpsf58c225f.jpg (http://s581.photobucket.com/user/Tipsbrock/media/Brant%20painted%20black/brantpaintedblack_zpsf58c225f.jpg.html)

[kyleklassen]

look good.........

[nor'wester]

Very cool!!

[pnbrock]

Broke my power carver yesterday so went to lee valley today for part. Lady asked what I was carving so I showed her a pic. She asked if I was making them for gifts , I said no for hunting birds. She said to lure innocent birds in to shoot. I said yes because the bread crumbs kept sinking :)

[Steeleco]

Oh how I can picture you doing that, and with a straight face to boot. Those be tasty birds, not innocent no more!!

[benttip]

very wonderful or what..geez..just great looking birds..congrats

[fuzzy 63]

your work is excellent . nice style and strong lines . the preening brant looks very life like . I would shoot over your set all day long !
What power carver do you use , mine is a foredom tool with a foot treadle . Best tool ever !. I am a stone carver and I can totally appreciate dedication to creating these working , works of art .
Well done
Cliff

[pnbrock]

foredom as you use,what kind of stone do you carve?you have my curiosity going.

[Cdn-Redneck]

Broke my power carver yesterday so went to lee valley today for part. Lady asked what I was carving so I showed her a pic. She asked if I was making them for gifts , I said no for hunting birds. She said to lure innocent birds in to shoot. I said yes because the bread crumbs kept sinking :)

The decoys look great!! I hope you don't throw down popcorn to find your way back to the beach too.

[fuzzy 63]

Hello , I use a variety of stone , most of it is local finds , there is a area in the nahatlatch river that has deposits of chlorite , it is jet black and carves very well . serpintine in shades of green to mottled brown near the caroline mines rd , off the coquihalla just to name a few . there is a importer in Vancouver that sells as well called neolithic stone . there is a website . check it out .
http://i1368.photobucket.com/albums/ag165/fuzzy_63/DSC_1089_zps158a4e0d.jpg (http://s1368.photobucket.com/user/fuzzy_63/media/DSC_1089_zps158a4e0d.jpg.html)

this octopus was finished last year and the stone is a type called pyrophyllite and this carving was done entirely with my fordom and carbide bits . the eyes are quartz .
keep up your great work
Cliff

[pnbrock]

That is a beautiful carving never thought of carving a rock before. Lol

[fuzzy 63]

Thanks , you could make a set of permanent confidence decs out of the black chlorite that you could haul into the marsh and then leave them there forever , probably would weigh 50 to 60 lbs each , life size .!
I'm a newer member to this site but if you are interested to attempt stone , u could pm me . it is just a hobby for me , but the finished artwork brings a very good return . there is a lapidary club out on fern crescent rd ,going up to allouette lake . many talented carvers there on friday nites .
Cliff

[Dutch]

Thats it pn stone robos that work on atomic power ,no need for batteries or armour all to shine em up leave them there all season....

[bogman]

Thats it pn stone robos that work on atomic power ,no need for batteries or armour all to shine em up leave them there all season....


Come on Cuz, Really

[pnbrock]

Well here it is .. after many trips to my friend Ian's Feirs for carving lessons, countless criticisms, and hours upon hours of hard work, the first 100% completed bird.

As I suck at painting, I had my wife take over once I had the carving complete. She knocked the paint out of the park (once again, thanks to Ian) … so, here you go - our very first Pacific Black Brant

We can't thank Ian enough for the time he's spent passing on his talent, much appreciated and forever grateful!

http://i581.photobucket.com/albums/ss260/Tipsbrock/brant%20decoy/photo_zps04130c14.jpg (http://s581.photobucket.com/user/Tipsbrock/media/brant%20decoy/photo_zps04130c14.jpg.html)

[field marshal]

Pretty fine work there Mr.!!! Keep up the excellent work!! I hope your decoys get put to work shooting, unlike another guy I know???:confused:
Cheers ---Field Marshal.

[Crazy_Farmer]

Very nice. I'm sure it'll fool a nice mature one in March!!

Ive got to sand and repaint my only one I finished with Ian's help. Gonna drag it down to Mexico in February and float it down there.

[kyleklassen]

that's a beauty...if your like me you will be very particular about who hunts over them...you don't want them all blown to rat shit.

[lorneparker1]

I don't see any pic?

[pnbrock]

its back on now lorne!

[lorneparker1]

Beauty bird Pat! Very nice. ill take 6!

[f350ps]

Is that Carols or one of yer shooters? Either way that would blow old MongoLloyd away, nice job!!! K

[Ian F.]

Proud friend and teacher here

[nor'wester]

Too pretty to use!! You're gonna have to wrap em in bubble wrap to get em out there!

[pnbrock]

bubble wrap will aid there flotation :)

[BiG Boar]

they look great pat.

[jimbc]

It's been said lots: you have considerable talent. No doubt taking birds over your own decoys will be most excellent!