Basic Decoy Carving by Walter J. Simmons

Basic Decoy Carving

Basic Decoy Carving by Walter Simmons was written to pass along experience gained through the years. It's precisely the sort of information you'd have a right to expect if you could have an experienced carver right there with you while you work. If you've been meaning to try your hand at decoy carving, but didn't quite dare for lack of specific information, this book was written for you and everyone like you. Have a friend or a relative who would like to learn how to carve? This would make a great gift.

From the Introduction...

This book began quite a long time ago. Every time I picked up some useful information that helped me in my work I jotted it down or made a mental note. Every time a student asked about suppliers I found myself writing out an impromptu list. And every time I looked for information and had difficulty finding it, I thought to myself, "This stuff really ought to be written down in one place." ...Well now it is, and this is the place.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 Using Wood and Other Stuff
Chapter 2 Hand Tools, Power Tools, & Burning Tools
Chapter 3 Sharpening
Chapter 4 Patterns & Reference Materials
Chapter 5 Caveats (Things to Bear in Mind)
Chapter 6 What Do You Use For ________?
Chapter 7 Actually Carving Something
Chapter 8 Paints & Painting
Chapter 9 Photo Gallery
Appendix: Patterns, Suppliers, References
Index

Here's a book that tells it like it is. It's full of shop sketches to help you along and tells specifically which products work and those that are best avoided. The photos below are two of those included in the Photo Gallery for ready reference. Add to that the plans for making your own dust box, three carving patterns (a basic shorebird, a miniature realistic Black Duck, and a Bufflehead Drake hunting decoy), as well as lists of suppliers and references, and this is not only useful, it's a bargain.

Pair of Cork Bufflehead Hunters

The plan for the drake is included in the book. The pattern is straightforward to use, and the decoys can be as plain or as fancy as you wish.

This Common Eider Hunting Decoy is one of the pieces featured in the Photo Gallery (Chapter 9). There are lots more, all in full color.

Here are two shop drawings from the book. The one to the left illustrates flow lines and the detailing of breast feathers. The one above illustrates the wing feathers for a miniature Black Duck.

Basic Decoy Carving by Walter Simmons. 6-1/2" x 8-1/2" format, comb bound to open and lay flat on your workbench for ready reference. 205 pages, 76 shop drawings and photos, indexed.................................................................$29.95

Credit Card orders for Basic Decoy Carving may also be placed

by phone at 207-789-5363,

or by fax at 207-789-5124,

...or you can contact us by Email.

If you prefer snail mail, our address is:

Duck Trap Press
P.O. Box 88
Lincolnville Beach, Maine 04849

Home Page