PRAIRIE
PEAK METAL WORKS
|
|
 
|
THE BOARD Have you ever needed a big throw from a little thrower
or a visible bird against a bad back ground and just could not do it--even with
streamers. Here is a device that enables a monster throw with a beautiful
skyline profile and it is very inexpensive. My friend Dennis Smith from Waco Texas, with the 2000 derby champion, showed me his design and I have been able to enhance it very little. He cut a shape form a pine 2" by 8", attached the same length string he uses on his bumpers, painted one white and one black (I have checkered mine with white and black to avoid the need for more than one), and explained that retrieving dogs ignore wood in the field if there is a bird anywhere close. By placing the bird and then throwing the much easier to throw board with the color that works best against that day's skyline color, normal throws can be spectacular. We use the board for that down the shore mark where a big toss is beneficial.
Cut a 16" long piece of pine 2" by 8" with a jig saw into paddle shape and seriously sand off all the edges, braded cord works nicely although length is more important than material make up. PRO LINE approved training seat. A good idea: A great idea:
A few dollars at a local upholstery shop and life is great.
STAKES My friend Ron Batman from Kansas first showed me how handy a brightly painted broom handle with a nail in one end could be. He uses them judging to mark the line, to identify gun stations, control walking traffic, and of course, to mark blinds. By drilling a whole in the top of each handle they can be staked to a very noticeable size. Over the years I have gotten away from broom handle size and gone to 1 inch squares cut from a pine 2x4. By spraying polyurethane on florescent orange the color shows up better at longer distances. Mine are about 24 inches high as that fits in the truck well. I grind the head off a long nail after pounding the pointed end into the stake. As with Clow feet, if you take care putting them into hard ground, they last for ever.
BIRD CRATE PAN Have you ever hauled a crate of birds in the back of your truck or station wagon and spent hours cleaning up after the effort? This $65.00 devise is worth the price if you do it very often and a must for a club that hauls birds a couple time every year. It is not one of PPMW's featured products, but is available on special request. Thank Tommy Sanders for Albuquerque for a good idea. This one measures 25" x 36"by 4" and facilitates most modern bird crates.
|
|
|
Size is important, at least in throwing boards.. I
have made bigger boards, smaller, used 2" by 6"s (cheaper but definitely
not as good of performance) , 1" by 8"s, not rounded the edges, used
longer cords, and this shape does best. The rounding of all the
edges keeps the board from braking up when it hits on a corner as well as
contributing to the flutter it provides in flight. End over end with a
twirl this device really looks retrievable. I know of at least one
instance where it has been used in a licensed filed trial to enhance
visibility. 
