Best Way To Apply Snake Skin to Longbow?

[jpbruni]

I am replacing the old, worn out, snakeskin backing on my longbow limbs and was wondering what is the best way to do this? Prep? Adhesive? Are there any tricks I need to know?

Thanks,

J.P.

[caughtandhobble]

Check out http://www.onestringer.com, they have the tough stickers that require nothing but a sharp knife to apply. I have had one on my 50# Montana for a couple of years and it looks great and has help up just fine.

As far as real snake skins I think 3 Rivers has an instructional video on their site.

[DFWPI]

Uh, make sure the snake is dead and skinned

[jpbruni]

Uh, make sure the snake is dead and skinned

I skinned it but then let it go.



Just kidding.

Yes, it is a tanned skin. Just need to know the best way to get it applied to the limbs.

J.P.

[Ol Man]

Tanned skins won't work - you need air dried snake skins!

[jpbruni]

Tanned skins won't work - you need air dried snake skins!

Yes, not tanned, I meant dried.

J.P.

[TxAg]

A good follow along

http://tradgang.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=2;t=000062

[Ol Man]

Here's a previous link/discussion...

http://discussions.texasbowhunter.com/forums/showthread.php?t=264377&highlight=snake

[Restless]

Just did one this weekend and have another for this weekend coming, basically sand the back of the bow with a fine grade of sandpaper to give the glue some tooth, soak the dried skin in warm water for 5 mins or so. while the skin is soaking apply a layer of titebond3 to the bow pad the skin dry with a paper towel apply to bow and center the skin on the limb for a longbow i use two skins and try to center at handle with the tail ends of the snake at the limb tips find a common spot to match/cut the skins but leave about 1/16th of an inch overlap as skin will shrink as they dry. smooth out the skin and remove wrinkes/bubbles pat down skins with a paper towel and rewet if you need to keep working the skin in to position as it drys i come back to check about every 15 mins. or so until I'm sure the skin is down and where i want it I do not wrap as some do because it smears the glue/ hide around the sides of the bow and makes for more clean up after a day or so when the glue is dry i trim the hide to the top edge of the glass. when finished I apply three coats of Truoil. I'll take some photos this weekend and show some of the bows Ive done.

[Restless]

I trim with utility knife blade.

[Selfbowman]

Be careful when triming the the skins as to not lift the edges of the glass on the back of your bow and get a splinter on the glass. This could cause a failure in the bow. I just send my request to Bob. Your getting some beauty on your bow maybe but you also add weight to the limbs that rob cast. Not much but some.Good Luck and hope it turns out just like you thought it should look.

[jpbruni]

Be careful when triming the the skins as to not lift the edges of the glass on the back of your bow and get a splinter on the glass. This could cause a failure in the bow. I just send my request to Bob. Your getting some beauty on your bow maybe but you also add weight to the limbs that rob cast. Not much but some.Good Luck and hope it turns out just like you thought it should look.

Appreciate the info. I am not actually adding, I am replacing the old skins. They should be here in a couple of days, so I will post some pics of the project. Removed thick leather wrap on handle and did some reshaping last night. Came out great. Looks much better without the leather!

J.P.