Snake Skins?

[Interseptor]

One of my trad buds is sending me a big rattler skin for my Acadian recurve.  The skin was in a man's freezer and the guy gave it to my friend to give to me.  What do I need to do to the skin before I'm ready to glue?  Do I need to stretch the     :p    skin out and let it dry?

[vanillabear?]

[briarjumper12]

I done my first one not too long ago. Skinned and fleshed then I used a staple gun and stretched my skins (not too tight) out on plywood whilst I was gettin' the bow ready.  Then rehydrated in water, sized the bow and put on the skins.  I worked the skins really good to get out all the air and never done the ace bandage wrap and they turned out great.

[Interseptor]

Briarjumper,  how long did you let the skin dry?  Do you put anything on the skin?

[Eric Krewson]

DON'T put anything on the skin, just let it dry a couple days. Anything you put on the skin, be it salt, borax or some other substance, will serve no purpose and will have be washed off or the glue won't stick.

I had to wash some salted skins for a half hour before I could get them to stick, a big pain in the butt.

I already had them on the bow before I realized the one I got from a friend had been salted. when I noticed the glue wasn't working I had to make a mad dash to the laundry sink and get both glue and salt washed off them quickly so I could use them.

These were perfectly matched copperhead skins so saving one from being salted was my utmost priority.

[Interseptor]

Just got the skin tonight and it is a good one!  Seems to have a little flesh left on it.  I'm going to buy a long board and a staple gun tomorrow and stretch the skin out.  What kind of knife should I use to get the flesh of?  How clean should I espect to get the skin?

[Pat B]

Use a teaspoon to clean off the fat and other soft tissues. You will know when you get the skin clean. The fat is thicker on the belly scales but you will be eliminating them anyway in most cases.  Like someone mentioned before and I will reitterate...wash the skin in warm water with Dawn dish detergent before glue up to remove the natural oils and any hand oils you may have added.  
Use the "original scent" blue Dawn liquid.

[Interseptor]

When you stretch the skin, should the scales be placed up or down?

[Bob at Work]

scales down when drying

[Interseptor]

Okay, I washed one section of the skin in the warm water with Dawn original.  Then I spread the elmers carpenter glue on the limb and spreaded the skin on.  Worked skin on the limbs (I did remember to sand the limb.).  I let it sit for a couple of hours.  Was able to trim excess skin.  Now about the scales.  Some did come off but not a lot.  Do I let the skin dry over night and try again to remove more scales tomorrow?

[Interseptor]

Just got off the phone with TU Archer and I think a lot of the scales that were on the skin were washed off before he sent me the skin.  On the belly section, I was able to pull that thin membrain off that Im thinking are scales. On the middle section, It seems as if the scales are gone and the pattern of the scales is left.  Forgive me guys, I'm new to fooling with snake skins.

[Interseptor]

Having problems finding a brand of varathane to spray the skins with once I get them glued on the bow.  Lowes has Rustolium varathane.  Will that work?  And if so, is there a particular kind that I need to get? And if not, what do you suggest I use?

[briarjumper12]

Use duct tape to get all the scales off.  Just stick it on and work it down really good then pull off.  Keep doing it till all the scales are gone.
Use Tru-oil to finish over the skins.