Koi Fish Skin Backing?

[Ryan Jacob]

What do you think of using koi skins over sinew? My koi just died...
Now, how do I post a photo again?

[DuBois]

Sorry for your loss?
Heck yes use that skin! Must have been a big Koi

[Ryan Jacob]

It's fine, It's going to be eaten, the skins going on a bow, and the bladder and gills are going to become glue, so it's not as big of a loss. Yeah it's huge.

[Morgan]

I've seen some koi that had beautiful markings. If the patterns and colors hold, could make a dramatic and very pretty bow back. How do you guys prepare fish skins for backs?

[Dakota Kid]

The colors will more than likely dull considerably. It might not be a bad idea to use some translucent pigments over the skin before the final finishing. Mixing paint with clear coat can get you translucent paint. That's very similar to the way taxidermists paint fish mounts. I considered getting into painting fish mounts at one point, just because I had the airbrush experience already, but never got around to it.

I have never used fish skins on a bow so I have no advice on how to prep them. Several members have, so hang in there someone will chime in.

[High-Desert]

They are a carp, and some guys on here have used carp skins for backing.
I've never used carp, just sturgeon. Make sure the skins are really good and degreased.

[FilipT]

How big was that fish?

[Ryan Jacob]

I was thinking of using it on the hande and tips instead of the limbs to make sure I wouldn't get the sinew wet again. I just scraped it clean and am salting it. It was about three feet long. If I wanted to back a bow, I would wait till a bigger one died, the one with more color. This one is pretty plain in some spots.

[Orrum]

This is interesting, how do you get the scales off and is a lot of the color in the scales?

[Greenriverwoodcraft]

I love using fish skin! I find that lots of times the colors are on the skins and it not all in the scales.  I just soak the skins in soapy water and scrub the hell out of them and I have had no problems.

[Ryan Jacob]

I got the scales of very carefully with kitchen tongs. On this koi, only some of the color came off. They’re pretty dry now but I’ll wait one more day to be safe.