Decoy Carving - Part 1

So on Monday, I received my decoy carving kit from The Duck Blind. I'm stoked. I spent Monday night watching the first of 3 videos on how I'm supposed to take this big cork block and the smaller cedar block and turn them into a duck. I'll be the first to admit that sometimes I really lack in the "artsy" department so this could get interesting...

Anyways, I haven't started carving yet. I put the guide lines on the blocks and they're ready to go as soon as I get all my ducks in a row (pun intended). Be prepared to be subjected to photos of my project... right... NOW!

Here are the pieces in their entirety.

Here is a closer shot of the body. Well, its going to be a body someday... Hopefully...


Here is a side shot of the head.

Front view of the head.

So one of the reasons I didn't start carving yet is the fact that I have no way to effectively hold this thing down while I go to town on it with all the knives and rasps and other assorted tools needed to turn this hunk of cork into something resembling a duck.

I searched the internet and posted questions to carving forums about what do people use to hold their carvings while they work on them. Now the answers were as varied as the flavors of Jelly Belly Jelly Beans, but I think I found something that'll work.

This apparatus is called the Poor Man's Vice. Instead of spending upwards of $200 on fancy professional ones, this thing was devised and submitted to the Poor Man's Tools contest and won some money... Anyways, whoever thought of it was a genius in my opinion. I assembled it as shown for $14.75. Huh? What did you say? $14.75? Not $200+? Nice job!


I also bought a small set of vise grip pliers to use to tighten and loosen the arm as well, but they're not in the photo. This thing is pure genius. You can tilt and rotate to your heart's content. I'm amazed.



So thats that for now I guess. I'll keep everyone updated with photos as my progress continues and I'd love to hear your comments if you have them!