Author Topic: gluing snake skins  (Read 1592 times)

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Offline osage outlaw

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gluing snake skins
« on: May 14, 2020, 09:49:54 pm »
I put some skins on a bow tonight.  I took a few pictures of the way I do it.  I put painters tape on the sides of the limbs to make the glue cleanup easier.  I start with a thin coat of TB and let it dry. 






I rounded the front of my tip overlays so I cut the ends of the skins to match the shape




I soak the skins in water for a few minutes to soften them up.  I hang them up for a while to let the excess water drip off.  I put a thin coat of TB glue on the limb and then start laying the skin from the nock end towards the grip keeping the pattern centered on the limb as I go.




I use roll my finger or thumb slowly down the limb to squeeze out any air bubbles or pockets of excess glue.  I do this probably 4 or 5 times down each limb to make sure it's good.




Sometimes the sides of the skins will dry faster and cause it to curl up and pull away from the edge of the limb.  I make cuts on the extra skin to allow it shrink without coming off the edge.  This really helps around handles and recurved tips.




The trimmed tips fit decent




I'm not sure if I'm putting a wrap on the handle of this bow.  I matched the ends up on the grip in case I leave it bare.  The pattern almost worked out perfectly. 




It's done.  I brought it inside the house to hopefully dry faster tonight.  It's pretty humid outside with rain predicted.  I'll post some pictures of how I clean up the edges tomorrow.





I started out with nothin' and I still got most of it left

Offline BowEd

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Re: gluing snake skins
« Reply #1 on: May 15, 2020, 05:18:36 am »
Good tutorial Clint.Thanks for showing.
It's kind of the fun/final look part of bow making.Cow horn overlays?
BowEd
You got to stand for something or you'll fall for anything.
Ed

Offline bjrogg

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Re: gluing snake skins
« Reply #2 on: May 15, 2020, 05:23:35 am »
Looks great Clint. Must be a pretty handle if you’re thinking about leaving it bare.
Bjrogg
A hot cup of coffee and a beautiful sunrise

Offline Aaron H

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Re: gluing snake skins
« Reply #3 on: May 15, 2020, 06:34:00 am »
Good tip on making slits down the sides Clint.  Beautiful skins

Offline Will B

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Re: gluing snake skins
« Reply #4 on: May 15, 2020, 09:38:02 am »
Those skins look great. Thanks for taking the time to show the steps for getting the skins to look great

Offline dylanholderman

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Re: gluing snake skins
« Reply #5 on: May 15, 2020, 10:33:45 am »
as someone who has never backed a bow with snake skins this looks great  :)

Offline Hans H

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Re: gluing snake skins
« Reply #6 on: May 15, 2020, 01:01:29 pm »
thanks for sharing that, never tried before
Hans
Hans,      Bavaria, Germany

Offline DV IN MN

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Re: gluing snake skins
« Reply #7 on: May 15, 2020, 02:06:35 pm »
Clint,

Looks great. Great tip on the edge cutting. Did you leave the scales on the skin?

Offline Weylin

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Re: gluing snake skins
« Reply #8 on: May 15, 2020, 07:22:23 pm »
Good tutorial, Clint. Thanks for sharing. That'll be a looker when it's done.

Offline osage outlaw

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Re: gluing snake skins
« Reply #9 on: May 15, 2020, 10:22:42 pm »
I remove the scales after it's dry. 

I take a smooth file and hit the edge of the limbs to cut a clean line.




The tape makes cleaning up the extra glue very easy.

I started out with nothin' and I still got most of it left

Offline JW_Halverson

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Re: gluing snake skins
« Reply #10 on: May 19, 2020, 09:24:07 pm »
Among your many fine features, Clint, your commitment to excellence in your workmanship is amazing.
Guns have triggers. Bicycles have wheels. Trees and bows have wooden limbs.

Offline loefflerchuck

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Re: gluing snake skins
« Reply #11 on: May 19, 2020, 10:54:47 pm »
Thanks for the tips Clint. Good idea with the tape. I used to always use hide glue, but I only have used snakeskin over sinew and the wet skin and hide glue mean the bow tiller will not be fine for at least a month. If I'm in a hurry I use TB and dry snakeskin.