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Making Wire Frame Canvas Decoys |
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Making Wire Frame Canvas Decoys |
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Post-head Canvassing |
Follows is a how to description on making my version of a wire frame canvas decoy. These birds originally from the east coast of the United States where made to do the job in a cost effective manner. As with all things I do I have to put my own touches on a bird, so if you are after a pure traditional bird, you can't get there from here...
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Materials: You will need the following to have a finished bird on the water
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The first thing you need is a pattern. You can use any pattern yo wish with a few modifications (go here to see how). Trace your pattern out and cut it out of your stock. Leaving an outline at least 1 1/2" thick remove the center of the profile part to lighten the bird. |
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With the parts cut out located the back of the nexk top of the shoulders on the profile pattern and transfer it to the base. Now scribe a line perpendicular to the line going front to back. This is where your first wire will land. Decision time... how much lean to the wires? I use 2 inches, so now I scribe lines two inches apart down the base of the bird. |
| Before you get the glue out, round over the base of the bird with a 1/4" to 3/8" radius round over bit in a router and knock the edges of the profile. This insure a nice smooth place for the canvas to rest against. |  |
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Using a good waterproof glue attach the profile to the base. I like poly glues, althougth they are messy! |
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Next comes the tail... Use your pattern as a base and subtract the profile from the overall width. Round the top and bottom and your ready for some more glue. **Note, the wooden tail is something I have not seen anyone else do, I started using it for durability reasons. Later on I show the traditional way which has a wire tail. |
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With the tail attached fill in any gaps that may have been left and smooth out the transition to the profile. The tail can also be mounted before the profile is attached, which I do about half the time. |
| A soild base for the head is next, at least on a post canvassing head. Using some scrap make a suitable sized head base and round the edges. |  |
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About a 1/4" to 3/8" down from the top edge of the base, where the lines meet the edge, drill a hold about 1/2" to 3/4" deep, just big enough for the fencing wire to fit in. |
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Time to start wiring... you'll need a piece of flexible wire, I use rebar wire but any will do. Now form it to the rough shape of the frame you are going to make. The length should extend about a 1/4" past the bottom of the bird. |
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Beggining |