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Main Boards => The Bowyer's Bench => Topic started by: Bow Bender on January 04, 2025, 08:08:59 PM

Title: Preparing snake skins
Post by: Bow Bender on January 04, 2025, 08:08:59 PM

What is the best way to prep fresh skinned snake skins for gluing onto bow limbs?   Scraped clean and air dried,  or treated with a tanning agent?

Title: Re: Preparing snake skins
Post by: Pat B on January 05, 2025, 12:00:05 AM

Clean and air dry. I usually staple, scale side down to a board until it's dry, generally only a few days. Before I put it on the bow I wash the skin in warm water and Dawn dish soap.

Title: Re: Preparing snake skins
Post by: Bow Bender on January 06, 2025, 05:55:01 PM

Thanks for the info Pat. I have some that I need to get out of the freezer and skin.

Title: Re: Preparing snake skins
Post by: Mad Max on January 08, 2025, 05:11:13 PM

Sam as Pat
I skin the snake, then with water running I pull off as much of the inter parts as possible and wash with hot water and Dawn, I use small nails or tacks to a piece of cardboard and let them dry.
When you are ready to glue them on, soak them for a while until they are real limp.