HELP: Repainting old decoys

[Dan-o]

I came into 24 used decoys for free today (Thanks SniperDan!).

They are old and beat up, but free.

I'm looking to recondition them with/for my son.

I'm looking for any tips/pointers on repainting decoys.   I'm mostly concerned about:
1.  How to prep them to get the paint to stick.
2.  Getting the color right (not glinty or too shiny)

They are all Mallard and Pintail dekes....

I know I have to be careful not to get shiny/reflective paint.....    I've seen what live ducks think of shiny new decoys glinting in the sun.   :-)

A real greenhead has a pretty shiny dome and a pretty bright beak.     

So, pointers from any and all are welcome.

Thanks,

Dan

[NW-GSP]

I have been meaning tondo the same thing, maybe get a air Brush kit?

[Dan-o]

I don't think you need an air brush kit.   Some guys getting good results w/o air brushes on you tube.


I'm finding some pretty good videos on you tube.......   Just looking for tips from some on here who've already done it.

I'm also thinking I might flock them.   That looks really good......

[EWUeagles]

To prep the decoys you can just wire brush off the lose paint and be ready to go. If you have access to a sand blaster or power washer that will take off even more paint and give you a better base to start with. I like to prime it at this point but watch what primer you use. If you plan on using an oil based paint you wouldn't want to prime it with a latex primer.

Next figure out if you want to paint or flock them (I prefer flocking but it is more time consuming and requires an airbrush). For painting looking into Parker paint kits or golden acrylics. I have done the cheap sample paints from Home Depot/Lowes and they do okay but you get about 2 years on it before the paint starts to come off. If you don't mind repainting them every other year and saving a buck then for sure give them a try since it is your first try at it.

If you plan on flocking them I would suggest rustoleum paint as the "glue". I buy my flocking from Fowl Flocker. The only colors you need in flocking are goose grey, brown, white and black (I'm experimenting with green this summer so that list might change for me haha). For an airbrush look at harbour frieght. They sale a decent double action air brush for 15 bucks. It's not the best but it's a great starter for learning. Then get a tupperware tub, you want one big enough that you can put the whole decoy in the tub and move it around with out touching the sides. The last thing you will need is a flour sifter. The process is pretty basic paint on the glue then sprinkle the flocking over the decoy. Let dry 24 hours and then put on a second coat. On the second coat put on enough glue that it looks wet but isn't running. If you get the paint too thick the flocking will become crusty looking. You do this for all the block colors then air brush on the details. Example, for a drake mallard you would do goose grey with grey rustoleum over the most the body, Leather brown rustoleum with brown flocking for the chest, black rustoleum with black flocking for the head and tail.

If you have any questions feel free to shoot me a message.

[Dan-o]

Sweet.    Thank you.

[Colin]

To prep the decoys you can just wire brush off the lose paint and be ready to go. If you have access to a sand blaster or power washer that will take off even more paint and give you a better base to start with. I like to prime it at this point but watch what primer you use. If you plan on using an oil based paint you wouldn't want to prime it with a latex primer.

Next figure out if you want to paint or flock them (I prefer flocking but it is more time consuming and requires an airbrush). For painting looking into Parker paint kits or golden acrylics. I have done the cheap sample paints from Home Depot/Lowes and they do okay but you get about 2 years on it before the paint starts to come off. If you don't mind repainting them every other year and saving a buck then for sure give them a try since it is your first try at it.

If you plan on flocking them I would suggest rustoleum paint as the "glue". I buy my flocking from Fowl Flocker. The only colors you need in flocking are goose grey, brown, white and black (I'm experimenting with green this summer so that list might change for me haha). For an airbrush look at harbour frieght. They sale a decent double action air brush for 15 bucks. It's not the best but it's a great starter for learning. Then get a tupperware tub, you want one big enough that you can put the whole decoy in the tub and move it around with out touching the sides. The last thing you will need is a flour sifter. The process is pretty basic paint on the glue then sprinkle the flocking over the decoy. Let dry 24 hours and then put on a second coat. On the second coat put on enough glue that it looks wet but isn't running. If you get the paint too thick the flocking will become crusty looking. You do this for all the block colors then air brush on the details. Example, for a drake mallard you would do goose grey with grey rustoleum over the most the body, Leather brown rustoleum with brown flocking for the chest, black rustoleum with black flocking for the head and tail.

If you have any questions feel free to shoot me a message.

Nice write up!!!

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

[Wingman509]

EWUeagles knows what he is talking about! Those are cheap wind mojos and FA HD gunners.

[Wingman509]

Pic of them in shade. Just the heads were flocked that was the only thing done to them and I think they turned out awesome.

[EWUeagles]

Pic of them in shade. Just the heads were flocked that was the only thing done to them and I think they turned out awesome.

Thanks Wingman! I'm glad you liked them.

[Badhabit]

There was a guy on Flocknocker who used to sell CD's on how to repaint and flock duck and goose decoys. He did a pretty good job of it as far as I could tell. If you get really good at repainting mallard decoys I have about a dozen CRD's that could use a repaint.

[EWUeagles]

There was a guy on Flocknocker who used to sell CD's on how to repaint and flock duck and goose decoys. He did a pretty good job of it as far as I could tell. If you get really good at repainting mallard decoys I have about a dozen CRD's that could use a repaint.

Was that Don Mintz or Jeff Killins? Those are the only two guys I know who made dvds about flocking. Both are very good but very different ideas in flocking. I don't believe Don sells his dvds any more. I'm glad I still have them around my house though.

[beninchelan]

A few of my birds

[beninchelan]

A few mallards

[beninchelan]

Dang I'm spotlighting  pintails

[beninchelan]

 :tung:EWU is right, but if it's your first time don't get too frustrated if they are not perfect, i use Traditions acrylics (best out their) also golden matte fluid acrylics
Also Blick has their own line of flat acrylics that are CHeep and hold up very well.. and for oils rustolum or the Parker paints are good, if you want the paint to stick your prep and prime steps are #1 important

Since it is your first time why not just have a paint store match the colors on a decoy you like that's a cheep way to go, yes you will have to repaint but chances are you will want to anyway, play with it, look at real ducks & have fun...
I have painted TONS  of geese and ducks so it is like anything, just practice. Also much of the detail work is for us more than the ducks, I do exaggerate all white & black on my birds because those are the colors that are visible at a distance