how to add skins?

[Scott Watkins]

I sure like the looks of some of yalls bows with snake skins, especially the copper heads.  So how would one go out and try and do this on their own?  Lets say I have a bow and a dead snake(I can go get one on my own), then what?  Thank you for your help.

[2madjacks]

Do you need the tanning process also?

[Scott Watkins]

Yes please, if you would, I have been able to catch some snakes pretty easily lately and thought why not.

[4runr]

No, you want to air dry the skins. No tanning needed.

I got my skins from Mike Yancey, Pine Hollow Longbows. I was in the process of refinishing the bow already, so I knew the limbs were clean and free from grease, oil or foreign matter. I roughed up the glass with 100 grit, wiped clean with Acetone. I then applied a thin coat of Titebond III. Place your skin in a pan of clean water, put another thin coating of TB III on the limbs, pat dry the skin and place it on the limb. You have some time to get the skin exactly where you want it, press out all the air bubbles with your fingers. I go back over it about every 15 minutes or so just to make sure some spots don't lift off.

After the limbs are completely dry, (I waited a couple days) I take a firm sanding block with 100 grit and carefully trim the edges. Once you get the edges trimmed, take duct tape and press it on the skins to remove all the scales. Make sure the scales all come off or you'll get a crappy looking finish.

Apply your favorite clear finish to the level of coverage you want and Voila!

[RAU]

yea air dry the skins. you can use a little borax on them to help dry but i dont think its necesary. I would follow 4runr's advice. i've only done one snakeskin job on a bow and used contact cement. It came out okay but i wasnt completely happy with it as once you lay em down with contact cement your done, you cant reposition the skin or realign it, one of the tightbond glues is definitely the way to go. Ive crested a few arrows with copperhead skins that came from a snake that almost bit my son and they came out beautifull. Ive got another copperhead skin in the freezer now that Im gonna crest this years hunting arrows with. Air dry the skins tho this is definiely the way to go, Ive bought prairie rattler skins from the big auction sight that were tanned and they were useless!! Air dried is the only way to go for our uses

[Keith Zimmerman]

Make sure you cover the rest of the limbs and tips with masking tape to make it easier to clean up.  I use several coats of poly to seal them.

[DaxE]

Does adding skins to a bow change the performance at all?

Thanks,
Dax

[bornagainbowhunter]

Originally posted by RAU:
. Ive got another copperhead skin in the freezer now that Im gonna crest this years hunting arrows with.

OOhhh!  I have a hen house and have been getting ALOT of rat snakes and black snakes here lately...  Thanks for the idea.  Now they won't just be thrown away.  

Snakes around my hen house somehow get small holes in their heads and then they curl into a ball...  

[RAU]

bornagainbowhunter, aint that weird how that happens?!?! Hahahah!

[A.S.]

Her you go. I applied skins to my ACS last year. I did everything as stated here, except use the superglue over the skins. I applied 4 or 5 coats of Tru-oil, then sprayed some satin Spar Eurathane over that just to cut the shine.

From what I could tell, it cost me just 1 fps in performance.

 http://tradgang.com/noncgi/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=2;t=000062#000000

[DaxE]

Thanks A.S. It has been many years since I have killed a snake, but might have to take a couple of pretty ones this year if I see them.

Dax