Author Topic: What Fish skins?  (Read 2769 times)

0 Members and 2 Guests are viewing this topic.

Offline GlisGlis

  • Member
  • Posts: 1,565
Re: What Fish skins?
« Reply #15 on: December 16, 2021, 10:57:59 am »
Quote
I wouldn't tan the fish skin but dry them or apply them green just like with snake skins
+1 
this was not intended to be a bow backing

Quote
How did you tan it?
I did yolk (mayonnaise also do work) method but there are different methods online
here is the post http://www.primitivearcher.com/smf/index.php/topic,69430.msg973948.html#msg973948
as Pat suggested for bow backing use simple rawhide
degrease before gluing as fish skins tend to be oily

Offline stuckinthemud

  • Member
  • Posts: 2,355
    • avenue woodcarving
Re: What Fish skins?
« Reply #16 on: December 16, 2021, 02:38:50 pm »
Do you salt the skin when you flay it?

Offline Pat B

  • Administrator
  • Member
  • Posts: 37,637
Re: What Fish skins?
« Reply #17 on: December 16, 2021, 07:19:05 pm »
Do not salt. That just adds a few extra steps with no benefit. Just tack it out on a board, flesh side up and let it dry.
Make the most of all that comes and the least of all that goes!    Pat Brennan  Brevard, NC

Offline stuckinthemud

  • Member
  • Posts: 2,355
    • avenue woodcarving
Re: What Fish skins?
« Reply #18 on: December 17, 2021, 07:56:08 am »
Thanks Pat.  For making fish skin leather, is smoking it an essential last step? Saw a guide on line but I don't see why you need to do this

Offline Pat B

  • Administrator
  • Member
  • Posts: 37,637
Re: What Fish skins?
« Reply #19 on: December 17, 2021, 10:21:34 am »
I don't believe smoking fish skins is necessary either. That is a process in brain tanning animal hides. There may be a way to make the fish skins softer for other uses than bow backing but I'm not familiar with that.
Make the most of all that comes and the least of all that goes!    Pat Brennan  Brevard, NC

Offline boxerboxer

  • Member
  • Posts: 30
Re: What Fish skins?
« Reply #20 on: December 17, 2021, 12:09:06 pm »
A coworker has backed several bows with northern pike with good results.