Applying An Antique Wash To A Decoy

Pat Gregory shares how his decoys get that great vintage look

[@timspeight7534]

Glad to hear you're enjoying the videos. Keep going, the more you build the more fun they become. I was very hestitant with my first birds, because I didn't want to mess up what I had already spent time on. After a few, your confidence will grow to the point where you'll say to yourself if I mess up I know I can fix it.

[@timspeight7534]

Yes. The birds that Pat demonstrated on in this video were painted with Latex Acrylic paint then washed with the oil paint/ Linseed oil/ Paint thinner recipe that he described. It is best to allow the latex paint to fully cure before applying the wash.

[@dawnmarie4607]

Thanks for sharing, being woodcarver it is always good to learn from others. I have never put an antique wash on my decoys because I always thought it made it too dark. But I see that it just enhances the colors and makes them more natural. I will have to give it a try.

[@stevekunde1117]

The wash I use is based on this recipe. Thank you for sharing it. I have gone to WN Sap Green instead of the Thalo

[@guitarshredder849]

Thanks so much for sharing! I am totally new to decoy making but I am already having tons of fun. Still working on bird number 1, its carved but needs to be painted.

[@khflanary]

I have used wood stain with good results.

[@hinojosfamilymh]

Do you know anything about JC Edwards decoys

[@robertunversaw]

So if I normally use latex paint I can use this same wash technique over that?

[@southerncountryboy8]

how do this wash look on black paint? I'm carving some bluebills and would look a weathered look. I'm worried this stain will antique the white wing patches but have minimal effect on the black parts of the bird. thoughts?

[@timspeight7534]

The wash dulls and darkens any paint it is applied over. The effect will be more pronounced when applied to White paint. The best approach would be to prepare samples of your work (dark and light colors)...paint scraps of the same type of wood you used to make the carving...then apply the wash to the samples. Adjust your application, and rest time to get the effect you want, then repeat that process to apply the wash to the decoy.

[@ipscjoe]

would it be ok to use "japan dryer" with the wash?

[@timspeight7534]

We don't have experience using drying agents with this technique. Paint a scrap of wood and experiment. Let us know how it works.