Snake skin removal

[Follower]

I have a glass laminated longbow with snake skin on it and the bow needs to be refinished.  I want to remove the skin and refinsh without skins.  Whats the best way to remove the skins?  I was planning to use a scraper.  Any ideas?

[Orion]

Use a single edge razor blade to lift the skin near the limb tip overlay and then just slide it under the skin at an angle down the limb. Keep the angle acute.  Too high, and the blade will dig into the glass underneath.  Some glue residue will remain, which can easily be sanded off with 220 or finer grit sandpaper.  

Of course, a sanding block and 120 or so grit can also be used to sand off the skin.  If you use that method, will need to change the paper fairly often as it will will fill with finish and snakeskin residue.  And a perfectly flat sanding block is essential to keep from sanding valleys into your bow limb.  

A scraper will also work, of course, but be sure you don't have any protrusions in the blade that can cut into the glass underneath the skins.

Always use a flat block behind any sandpaper you use to work the back and belly of limbs regardless of how you remove the skins.  Good luck.