Removing snake-skins

[Gnat]

How are snake-skins usually adhered to bow limbs?

Is it possible to remove them without things getting ugly, and does this require a complete refinishing of the limbs?

[Dan Bonner]

Most folks I know including myself put them on with Tightbond woodglue. The second question is tricky. If they are trying to come off the bow, meaning they are turning loose at the edges they will probably come off without much problem. I apply them over a finished limb. Meaning I spray a couple coats of  finish on the glass or carbon back of the bow, let it dry a few days, rough it up and apply the skins. You MAY be able to get away with using some acetone on the wood glue remnants and gently sanding with 300+ grit to smooth out the roughness and your done (if they applied them to a finished limb. Some guys apply them to raw glass and finish over them. My experience with this method has been that the begin coming off over time. If this is the case you will have to sand down the whole limb and refinish. Problem is you won't know until you peel them off.

[Orion]

Yep.  I do it like Dan.  Can usually slip a single edge razor blade under the skin and run it along the back of the bow to remove the skins.  Good luck.