I picked up a few really shot up targets at the Alabama State shoot last weekend. Having fixed such targets in the past I thought a pictorial of the process would be of interest to the Trad Gangers.
Here is what I bought at the target auction. Could have probably carried the two small ones for free but I gave the club $11 total for them(good cause). The deer was a little more.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v181/ekrewson/target%20patching/allthreebad.jpg)
I dropped the coyote while walking into the shop and found it was worse than I thought.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v181/ekrewson/target%20patching/coyoteintwo.jpg)
I pegged it back together with dowels and wrapped clear plastic and duct tape around it.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v181/ekrewson/target%20patching/coyotetapedandpegged.jpg)
Same treatment for the deer.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v181/ekrewson/target%20patching/deertaped.jpg)
Here are all three taped and ready for some "Great Stuff" insulating foam.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v181/ekrewson/target%20patching/allthreetaped.jpg)
Insert the nozzle as deep as you can and shoot the foam in. Make a lot of holes around the patch to get the foam in every crack and crevice. Shoot a little and move rather than trying to fill the whole patch with one shot.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v181/ekrewson/target%20patching/shootingfoam.jpg)
These holes were massive so I could only fix one side of all three with one can. I will have to get another can to finish the job.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v181/ekrewson/target%20patching/allthreefoamed.jpg)
The next installment will be later after a trip to the store.
Good thread Eric, man those have seen a lot of arrows and they will surely see a lot more after you are done with them :thumbsup:
where can I get some shot up targets?
Because it was 100 degrees at the shoot very few people hung around for the shot up target auction. I bought this novelty deer they had used as a moving target for $20, mighty good shape and no one was too serious about buying it because of the color. I just happen to have a gallon of Mckenzie brown paint.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v181/ekrewson/target%20patching/spandex.jpg)
I sorta liked that deer Eric. The blue points gave you a good aiming spot. Reckon there were any arrows down the hill in those pines behind her?
Show a pic after the completed restoration.
TTT
Eric that target is an exact copy of the rare NJ albino blue back deer!A Great thread I swear by that "GREAT STUFF"
Are you finished yet?
Back to the shop. The foam has cured and expanded.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v181/ekrewson/target%20patching/foamedup-1.jpg)
First I trim the excess with a knife. This is the coyote. I wrapped it again after I took this pic and shot the remaining holes full of foam. Couldn't get them all the first time.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v181/ekrewson/target%20patching/knifetrimmingexcess.jpg)
Next I file the contours and edges to blend everything.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v181/ekrewson/target%20patching/filingcontours.jpg)
And the finished coon and deer. The coon had a hole you could stick your fist through. I don't worry about scoring rings as these are for hunting practice. I know when I make a good, killing shot. When I patched targets for a club I had templates for the rings and cut them with a dremel tool and carbide burr. I could cut them to look like they were molded in from the factory.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v181/ekrewson/target%20patching/finishedcoon.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v181/ekrewson/target%20patching/finisheddeer.jpg)
I had to give the coyote a few extra treatments so it is still curing. Will post pics of the finished patch job. I had enough foam left from the second can to patch a badly shot up gator as well. Four targets repaired with $10 worth of foam.
Pretty cool Eric. I've wondered how that was done, but never had it demo'd before. Now I know what to do.
Marvin
I liked the blue and white deer, it looks like one of the snow mizers... Reminds me of shooting in the a/c. :bigsmyl:
Awesome! I made an arrow holder with that stuff. Just filled a 5 gallon bucket with pieces of 2" PVC and squirted the great stuff foam around all the PVC arrow tubes. Works great!
good thread.......... :thumbsup:
I bought some foam from a guy in Texas and it was expensive and is to soft to stop my arrow!
Thanks for the instructions! I think this is one of the most useful threads!
Thanks for the fix a long Eric! That sure is a good way to get a hold of a lot of targets. Cheers, Matt
Eric,
THANKS
Please let me know when you have more of the Mossy Oak recurve bow socks :thumbsup: :campfire:
Mike
LOL...those targets have seen a lot of "love".
Nice patch jobs, great idea.
I have a shot out deer I'll use these instructions on
Here is the finished coyote.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v181/ekrewson/target%20patching/finishedyote.jpg)
For this process to work the best, patch your target when it is about the condition of the deer section shown earlier in this thread. If you wait until your target is in the condition of the coyote the patch will be less durable than a patch that still has a lot of original foam pieces in it. I have 11 targets that I put out for practice, this saves wear and tear on all of them because I divide my shots between them.
great thread... Tanks
Thanks Eric - I have a deer I waited too long on, and your fix-it on the coyote will be a good thing to try for mine. Great ideas!!!
Jake
When I patched the blue deer and after the side was really foamed up I tried and experiment to compress the foam and make a denser patch.
About 30 minutes after I foamed the shot up area I patted the plastic above the foam with my rubber gloved hand, at about this stage.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v181/ekrewson/target%20patching/foamedup-1.jpg)
The foam collapsed back into itself and made a very dense patch. I was completely out of foam at this point and couldn't cover the ragged patch with another squirt to bring the contours back out to the normal level but here is what I ended up with. I have painted the deer but you can see the dense patch. This is my first try at condensing the foam but I may be on to something.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v181/ekrewson/target%20patching/densefoam.jpg)
How durable is that patch in comparison to the original foam?
The same or slightly denser.
I keep a few cans of that stuff around all the time.
I just randomly fill arrow holes as I go. Helps the target last a long time.
Nice tutorial.
Great Idea. Headed to store now to get some expansion foam.
Yep Eric, rebuilt mine many a time ! Works for me , and a wee bit cheaper than a new target ! L.O.L >>>---------->RIVERWOLF
You might want to pick up therepair kit from the guy that was selling them at Denton Hill. He had samples and the foam seemed to wear similar to a rinehart target. Our club bought four ofthem and hope to try them out soon. We tried the great stuff but it didn't last long with a bunch of guys shooting the same target. I'll post how the repair kits worked as soon as we try them out.
Eric you related to Van/Tx.good job Kip
ttt
Very interesting!! Thanks for sharing :saywhat:
Philil
North west Alabama, lots of similar places for sale but only come with room for a garden. I have 4 acres of woods and about 1/2 acre open in which I have planted a fruit trees, muscadine vines, blueberries and a vegetable garden.
Here is the current view off the deck on the other side of the house. The deer on the left is the former blue and white deer from earlier in this thread.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v181/ekrewson/07backyardrange.jpg)
Nice set up! This is a cool thread. We patch targets...have used the foam but have never tried condensencing it. Had great luck with a kit that Bass pro sold but can't find it on line or in their catalog anymore. I bought a kit from 3rivers but have not tried it yet. A few years ago I bought a fox that was a former moving target at Elberton...thing is still in great shape. I also bought a little bear about two feet tall...paid 5.00 for it and about 30.00 to replace the vitals...it is in perfect condition. Most of our targets were bought used...I guess we bought about 5 of them new.
Went to the new Gander Mountain in Jacksonville tonight and found a hog I want for Christmas. ;)
ttt
great thread!
Eric good info thanks. I am envious of your own little shooting gallery in the back yard! I also would have left the blue and white "Bravehart" deer as is other than foam repair!
Eric, Thank you very much for sharing your technique. Much appreciated.
Great tip Eric on compressing the foam. I've got a hog target I've redone twice now and the second go 'round wasn't as dense as I would like it. Next time I'll shoot smaller shots and compress it after it's had a bit to setup. Thanks!
I have one of those feather lite turkey decoys. I was thinking of filling it with expanding foam and using it as an inexpensive 3-D archery target. Has anyone tried this and how did it work>
Great job,thanks for sharing. :thumbsup:
The only thing I do different is I add some denser foam into the core area (I cut out the center (use a bread knife) and form a plug out of the foam board) I like to use kids boogie boards (the eatha foam ones, not the white fome) and then cover and spray in the foam, shape and paint. The inner foam stands up to 100s of shots or broad heads better than the spray foam alone (I purchase the boogie boards at flee markets, church sales $5 or less entire repair less than $15)