Linen/snake skin backing question(s)

[dinorocks]

Good morning-

Today I plan to back my son and daughters hickory bows with linen.

Note, it was hard to get the limbs tillered to a low weight and I'm worried that the limbs may break...furthermore, there is also an areas on the back of one of the bows, near the tip, that is a bit thin (my kids helped to remove the bark and went a little to deep into the sapwood with the draw knife).  

I have never back a bow with linen...can you please confirm the following steps and look at my questions below;

1. tiller to ~80% of final (worried about weak spot in limb to tiller 100% until back is reinforced),
2. rough up the back of the bow,
3. size the back of the bow with TBII or TBIII and let dry until tacky,
4. soak linen in water and dry with paper towel, 5. coat linen with glue and apply to back of bow, 6. use wet fingers to remove air bubbles,
7. allow to dry over night,
8.trim excess linen from sides of bow with file,
9.finish tillering,
10. seal bow.

Questions;
1. how best to seal bow with linen backing; if I use tung oil on wood, can I also apply tung oil to linen or should I use something else (like a coat of TBII or TBIII)?
2. I have a set of short snake skins that I woud like to add to the linen-backed bow...is this a good idea?  How best to install the skins on the linen and how best to seal?

Thanks in advance for helping!

Dino

[Pat B]

Basically 1 thrugh 10 are correct. I like to do an initial trimming of the backing material about an hour or so after glueing the backing down but before it totally cures out. It is easier to work then but be careful not to pull it up off the surface. You don't have to rough the back before backing. You might want to sand it with fine sandpaper then wipe it down with alcohol or acetone to remove any hand oil or other grease or oil that might be present.
  With TBIII you will have to work a little quicker because it has a faster set time. Size the back and add glue to the backing and put them together and smooth as you said. You want the backing(cloth) to be totally saturated with glue but not so much it runs. If you want to add snake skins later follow the same method as with the cloth backing.

[dinorocks]

Thanks Pat.   ...additional input is greatly appreciated!

Thanks,
Dino

[rover brewer]

thats how I done mine,but I let mine dry for a week before I trimmed but its because I have nowhere to work on it other than outside