Scoter decoy foamer build.

[h2ofowlr]

I was wondering if anyone was building any decoys in the off season?  I am working on foamers currently.  Figuring out what works the best and learning what I should and shouldn't be doing.  Taking some pictures during the process and will post those upon completion of one of the birds.  Working on sea ducks for gunning out of my MLB.

[Special T]

Very cool! Are you going to do some kind of burlap covered foam? Do you have a mold and them pour in the mix??? I'm looking forward to the pics!

[h2ofowlr]

Foamers w/ burlap outside.  I am also looking at the two part foamers with the metal mold.  Just trying to get the two part foam.  I guess it is a control product now.  The pellets and boiling takes forever.

[Special T]

Jeepster has some experience with the foam, and he says its is really expensive. Aprox a $100 Cube Ft. I know i'll be looking at it for when i build my Hybrid duck boat.. Where did you get the metal mold and how much did it cost? How does the pellets and hot water work?

[h2ofowlr]

Changing the process a little.  Next one I do I will burlap the top then the bottom last all in one setting.  I purchased some heads, so those will go on the ones with out.  I am also going to try to make some by purchasing the pink sheets of foam and sandwiching vinyl flat trim in the middle then carving them heads out.  Should be fun.  It has been fun so far.
I probably wouldn't recommend using dock floatation like I did as it has been wet all the way through.  I have been trying to dry it, but could run into problems down the road.  It was free, so most of my expense will be in labor.

[h2ofowlr]

Jeepster has some experience with the foam, and he says its is really expensive. Aprox a $100 Cube Ft. I know i'll be looking at it for when i build my Hybrid duck boat.. Where did you get the metal mold and how much did it cost? How does the pellets and hot water work?

It's not to bad price wise.  There are a few sites you can buy the mold off of.  E-bay has been selling a few.
You can buy the foam from http://www.uscomposites.com/foam.html

[Special T]

WOW 10 bucks a cube is a lot cheaper than i heard! I know in the video i have they boat builder put 2 liter pop bottles in the flotation area to make the foam go farther. wonder if you could use 1 liter bottles and surround them in foam?

[dirty24d]

i recently acquired ( purchased for 25 bucks ) plans to build my own dekes, but havent started yet, have to order some glue and have it get a bit warmer before i do. will post pics when the time comes though

[Special T]

I talked to a dock builder once in Anacortes and they used a hot wire to cut the big blocks into pieces. I wonder if instead of a saw  a hot knife would make less of a mess?

[h2ofowlr]

I talked to a dock builder once in Anacortes and they used a hot wire to cut the big blocks into pieces. I wonder if instead of a saw  a hot knife would make less of a mess?

I am sure it would create a lot less mess.  I have tracked this stuff all through the garage and house.  It hides on you.  I had to go with what I had.  I would have chose to go with the Restle coating vs. burlap, but this type of foam is to soft to try that method.  You need a 2lb or 4lb "dense" foam for that or it will crack on you.

[Stilly bay]

you will probably find that pink sheet foam a lot easier to work with. its not nearly as crumbly and takes a shape very easily.

I messed with a lot of different tools for shaping from sur-forms, micro planes or just sand paper and have found that a good old file and rasp work the best for me.

also when using burlap don't worry about getting the foam super smooth. leave lots of nooks and crannies for the mastic to sink into.

and as a final note it doesn't hurt to get some big old sewing pins or those uber long upholstery tacks and use them to hold the burlap in place while applying the mastic. when you have it the way you want it slide the pins out and dab a little mastic any holes they may leave.

hope you find some of these tips useful

Im working on a mix of pine and cedar diver blocks with a few foamers thrown in for good measure, good quality fun that keeps me off the street.

[terrellwa]

It's neat you posted this up I was looking at starting this project yesterday.  Doing lots of research and pricing the pink foam and almost had my mind made up to build a few dozen of these during the offseason.  Then I found I could get a great price on Full Curl decoys so decided to change directions and just buy a few dozen full curls.  I may still carve out a dozen decoys just to do it, like I don't have enough other duck related things to keep me busy in the off season. 

[h2ofowlr]

Some more pics.

[h2ofowlr]

The black is shinny as I just painted it.  It will dry flat.

[lokidog]

I talked to a dock builder once in Anacortes and they used a hot wire to cut the big blocks into pieces. I wonder if instead of a saw  a hot knife would make less of a mess?

Radio-controlled airplane builders would use a hot electric wire to cut wing blocks.  Not sure if they still do this.