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What Does 50 lbs of EPS Look Like?

4K views 2 replies 2 participants last post by  ScaupHunter 
#1 ·
This is what it looks like in decoy body form. :smile:



This is the second 50 lb batch of EPS I have cast. I keeled all of the decoys last night and will be starting the restle coating process when I get home tonight. Around 1/3 of the decoys will be turning into puddler hens and the rest will be divers. Mainly Cans, Ringnecks, and GE's with a few Old Squaw, Harli's, and a few others tossed in. There are 8 Herters 72 bodies in there that I plan to make into Brant's for a late season hunt. I have plans for one more 50 lb batch that will be turned into geese and scoters.



I just finished putting the eyes in the Scaup, Drake Mallards, and Drake Pintails I have finished. I will post up pictures of them tomorrow.
 
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#2 ·
How much does EPS cost and where do you get it? I think I have entirely too many decoys, but my opinion of that changes ever so often coming across a good deal lol. How many different molds do you use and where did you get those as well? After its out of the mold is the painting process require a base to hold onto the EPS? I think I may give this a try this year.
 
#3 ·
50 lbs of EPS from Polysource costs $228 shipped to my door. I cast 103 decoy bodies from the last 50 lbs I ordered. Polysource sells it in miminum orders of 50lbs. I have not been able to find anyone else who sells it in small quantities. Everyone else wants to sell you 1,100 lbs of the stuff.

You can buy the fine bead for decoy heads from Iasco Tesco.

The molds are most easily found through BurpyFrog on Ebay. Marvin is a great guy and will sell them for better prices if you contact him directly. Used molds also come up on Ebay now and then. I just sold off two of my used ones. I used 6 body molds for all the different bodies you see.

Goose Mold
Standard Puddler Mold
Teal Mold
Small Diver
Medium Diver
Large Diver

If you hunt a ton of different ducks you end up with quite a few molds.

If you want to simplify things you can buy one diver mold and one puddler mold and pretty much have everything covered.

I would reccomend going to workingdecoys.net and doing a ton of reading in the molding and casting forum.

I used a Restle coating on my decoys. 1 layer of Titebond 3 the coat with fine sawdust. Let dry and put another coat of Titebond 3 on the body. Let dry and paint. I am presently fiddling around with Rustoleom Restore to see how I like it. I tried it on some teal bodies and liked how it went on. I am not sure how well I will like the durability. I will know that once this season is over.

I am painting my decoys with outdoor latex. I mainly use the samples from Home Depot and they go a long ways. I buy quarts in black, white, and the core brown colors.

I am really enjoying the process. Pm me your address. I will mail you a body and head with a keel to play with and see if you want to take the next step.
 
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