Preparing and laying Rattler skins?

[briarjumper12]

I got a couple of good rattlers in the freezer and my 3rd hickory self bow in the works that I am going to try to steam into a static recurve.  Could some of you guys that know how give me the details on preparing the skins and the methods and materials for putting them on the bow.
Thanks,
John

[Stiks-n-Strings]

Soak them in luke warm water while you are preparing the bow.

 Apply TB3 and after you have patted the skins dry lay them on the bow work out all air bubbles and let dry for about an hour then using a sharp razor blade trim off the excess and let dry overnight.

 After it's dry use either tape or steel wool to remove scales and apply several coats of tru oil.

 You can use a fine file or fine sandpaper to clean up the edges after the glue dries.

 Some guys wrap the bow in gauze or an ace bandage but the method I use is the one I gave you and it works for me.

 We want pics when finished    

 Stiks

[Pat B]

To prepatre your skins...thaw them and stretch them on a board. I use a staple gun but push pins work well. Remove any excess fat or meat and allow them to dry. When completely dry store them in a zip lock bag until you are ready to use them.
  You can put the skins on "green" also. Once they have thawed remove the fat and excess meat, wash the skin(s) in dish soap to remove and grease. Now glue them down like Stiks said.
  If the skins are thick you might have to wrap them after you apply them. Thinner skins like copperhear or Western D-backs or prarrie rattlers are thin and will lay will of the bow without wrapping.

[briarjumper12]

I think I will try them green.  One is skinned already...I buddy has it waiting for me.   The other I haven't skinned yet, another buddy killed it in his yard after it struck twice at his mom while she getting the mail...Yikes!  Anyway, I am very close to getting the bow floor tillered.  Once floor tillered I am going to build a jig like the one in TBB 2 and boil the tips to a static recurve.

Some more questions I been thinking about...

Should the skins be applied before tillering or after tillering is finished?

Do you need to rough up (toothing plane or something) the back or just apply the glue?

How thick does the glue need to be?

How thick to I need to leave the limb tips for the bending proces?   I was thinking get it floor tillered and then do the bends but I don't really know for sure.

I will get some pics up when done.  Right now pics ain't worht fooling with.  It's just your typical hickory blank right now.
Thanks guys.  I'll keep you posted of the progress.

[Stiks-n-Strings]

Yeah Pat I guess I forgot the part about drying them.
 
 Never done green skins always used dried ones

[Rich Evans]

apply the skins after you are done tillerin completely. no need to rough up the surface, tbIII will hold just fine on a smooth back. i put a fair amount but not enough to run off the sides of the bow while i am applying the skins. once you do one, you will say "boy that was easy". otherwise, stiks is right on also.  and btw, i only use dried skins, never used them green. i figure there's too much chance to grow bacteria or something.   if you stretch the skins on a board and use thumb tacks to tack it down, flesh side up, and scrape off any excess fat from the skin, it will dry in less than a week, then trim off the outside edges, cause they get real crusty, and then soak it in a bucket of water.  PS, don't use the wife's mop bucket, they don't really appreciate that...lol

[briarjumper12]

sounds easy enough.  I am definately gonna try it.

[Pat B]

Adding skins is the very last thing I do to a bow before finishing it. I want to shoot it in, at least 100 shots to insure everything is good before adding the skins.

[snakewood3]

Like Pat says...shoot the bow a bunch before expending the time and materials to skin it.