Lakco Decoys

[HVFD14]

Just took my new Lakco wood decoys out yesterday to give them a try.  They rise up well, but I didn't like how they fell.  I played with them a little more throughout the day.  After about an hour of one of them being in the water, the paint was splitting up the sides, top and bottom of the decoy.  It also started sitting different in the water with the tail sinking.  I realize they are only $8, but less than 2 hours of use and they are garbage.  Anyone else try these and have same/different results?

[jasonmichalski]

I guess that's how they make there money, by saving on sealer. That's petty bad its looks like they self destruct after a few hours.

[PikeSticker]

Wow, you say that is a NEW Lakco? The ones I bought about 5 years ago only have a plastic stick-on eye on each side. My paint is much thinner than what your's appears to be. Yours looks like some sort of thick house paint. Mine is a very thin layer, air brushed on.  I've not had any issues with the paint on these older ones but then again, my decoy only hangs in the water 15-20 minutes before pulling it if its not bringing in fish. I've got so many deeks that they usually only see maybe two dunkings during the entire day unless one is the definite go to deek of the day. All my homemade decoys were made of clear pine, 1x2 stuff cut to size and then carved with my pocket knife. I use waterbased acrylic paints because there are so many wild and crazy colors to choose from and they are cheap and easy to clean up. After the paint is cured overnight under or over a light bulb I dip them in a quart can of Spar Varnish for a sealer and have never had any issues with water logging, paint cracking or peeling on these.

I'd say this is the perfect opportunity to scrap off that paint and put a customized color and pattern on it and then a layer of spar varnish or you can buy varathane in spray cans now which makes sealing them even more quick and dirty.

[HVFD14]

Brand new.  Yesterday was the first time it saw water and that was only for 2 hours tops.  Not sure if it is just the paint cracking or the wood swelling and causing the paint to crack.

[Bass Rat]

I bought 2 of these last week and after two days of use mine look a lot worse than yours.
just like you said the paint cracks and the wood swells which knocks them out of balance.
I also think that a coat of varnish would have stopped this from happing in the first place.
I guess you get what you pay for.

[JCrean]

I bet they use basswood.  No matter how they (or you) finish it, it will still swell and split.

My Lakco looks the same.

Pike don't care about looks though...

[kasilofchrisn]

Bought some lakos a few years ago and they worked fine with no splitting or paint cracking.
Like pikesticker said mine had a real thin coat of paint that looked much thinner than the paint on yours.
I painted a couple of mine in custom colors at home and that was put on over the factory paint and no problems at all with the paint or decoy on the factory paint or the ones i added paint to. Other than the fact I didn't get any fish with my custom painted one as far as I remember.

[HVFD14]

Talked with the guys at TTO (sells Lakco).  The last 2 years, they have been having paint problems.  They made the situation right for me and I will do business with them again once they get their paint figured out.

[jasonmichalski]

Repaint with vinyl paint and it will flex with the movement of the wood it is also water proof and chip resistant. It may at least make it so there not a total loss, try CS Coating systems. 

[Higgins]

If more people new how to spear this would not happen, what I mean is that there are not mass productions of quality wooden decoys because there is not a big enough market to support them. That's why we have to rig up home made stuff and make are own things for spearing or you can pay a high price to have some one make you a decoy, spear, shanty or other item of high quality. I hope none of you take offense to the last comment because I totally understand what it costs to make a spear, Decoy and shanty when you can't buy your materials for rock bottom prices like a big factory and it's just you or a buddy working on them and you of course have to make a little change for your time that goes into them. Just a little venting because even though you did only spend $8 on that decoy it should still be made of material that can handle what it's made for  I wish this sport was shared by all but most guys wont even attempt spearing unless they know some one that knows what there doing.

[brycro]

seal bare wood with a mixture of 50% mineral spirits and 50% boiled linseed.  brush it on heavily and/or dip into it.  do this a couple times.  Let air dry for a few days.  Prime, paint and paint it over with that cheap epoxy that is sold in home depot and has the syringe look to it.  I use a cheap flux brush to do this....when it dries there will be no brush strokes in it....I use Krylon auto body primer and it works good.  Paint is up to you but I always use spray paint to do my plugs.    I have never spear fished or used a decoy but that is how I make a saltwater plug and it works....Anything I make that will be outside in the weather gets sealed with the 50/50 mix.....The important step is sealing the wood.