Need help with snake backing!!!!

[jgbennett6]

Well last night i started backing some recurve limbs with rattler skins. Everything was going fine..........except the skins were lifting a bit so i wrapped them with an ace bandage........
I think this is where i messed up, when i unwrapped them the skins had slid. and now a part of the limb tip is not covered.what should i do?...
shoudl i cut a piece to fit and glue it on before i cover it in true oil?..or do i have to start all over?

[jgbennett6]

anyone?

[1gutpile]

So the skin slipped after you applied the bandage....Why were the skins lifting?...did you sand the limbs to remove the finish?...Is this a lam bow.? What type of glue did you use?...Answer these and I can give you some advise....gut

[jgbennett6]

Thanks, ok tehy were glass limbs, i sanded them with 60 grit, i didn't sand too deep, but enough to rough it up. then I wiped down with acetone. soaked teh skins and then got them as dry as i could. i used titebond 2 i think tehy were lifting because teh skin i am using is a huge rattler and i was able to cut it in half lengthwise and use those halves....yes teh skin slipped when i applied the wrap.

[jgbennett6]

is it possible to patch it with a small piece of skin , and will it be sealed enough with a few coats of trueoil

[1gutpile]

sure..if the rest of the skin is holding that is what I would do..sometimes you miss a small amount of finish on the edges while sanding and the glue won't hold as good not being cleaned or roughed up enough and that is why the edges pulled...When that happens I just use some super glue at that spot and it will hold just fine...now on the patch I would try to match it the best I can and super glue it...tru oil is a fine looking finish but it can be shiny..is that what you want?...I like using a spar varathene with about 6 coats satin finish...You must of used a big canebreak didn't ya....gut

[jgbennett6]

the rest of the skin is holding alright. i think i will need to use some super glue the edges. after i super glue and patch the top 1-2" witha  different skin, willi be ok to trim and remove the scales tonght?..also how many coats of trueoil(i like the shine)should i use, and should i apply it with my fingers?

[1gutpile]

Personally I would let the glue set up another full day before trimming..JMO...On some skins I trim within 24 hours as long as all holds well..Never before that though...I trim mine with a fine rasp...bevels the edges and just gives you a perfect professional job...Just rasp at an angle to the limb and the skin will just trim right at the edge..PERFECT...personally I have never used tru oil on a skin job..I use the varathene but I have used tru oil many a time on my stone knife handles and I usually put on about 4 to 5 coats...you can knock down the shine if it is too much with a real fine steel wool pad..I would do the patch and give it till tommorrow night to trim and remove the scales.Definitely or you run the risk of pulling up the skin...just lay some masking tape over the trimmed skin for removing the scales may take a few passes to get them all...Did you use a big canebreak????...gut

[LAR43]

Sounds like there wasn't enough glue under the skins. It ought to squeeze out from the edges as you press the skins down.
It takes a while for the glue to really set up completely even though it looks like it's bonded down. I leave skins alone for at least 24-36 hrs before handling or continuing working on them.

If you can soak the limbs (covered with towels soaked in warm water) you might be able to re hydrate the glue & skins enough to lift them off. You might also ruin the skins. If they come off ok & you don't have another set of skins, soak them & get the glue off then start the process again. The whole point here is to keep everything wet.

Good luck.

Larry

[jgbennett6]

thanks guys, actually i was told it was a big ol rattler. and believe me it was. I tell ya this is my first attempt, and if i could afford it i would def. send it to someone who knows what they are doing:(... i have the other half of teh snake but i dont think i trust myself to try it again.

[Pat B]

I've noticed when adding skins to self bows I have to pay close attentiom to the skin when wrapping. The skin will have a tendancy to slip towards the direction the wrap goes on.
   On my latest sinewed bow, I cut a timber rattler skin lengthwise so both limbs would match. I had no problems by doing this.
  I usually leave about 6" of the limb tips bare of skin. A simple wrap with thread set in glue makes a secure terminal end.   Pat

[Pignut]

How close to the tip were you?  If it was not that obvious I would try and trim the skin in a decorative motiff and then follow suit with the other limb.  Do you have any pics?  Also remember that when using a large skin the scale size will dictate a lot of sanding back (of the skin tabs) to obtain a leveled finish.

Good luck.

[jgbennett6]

hey pignut..you not that far away from me. Imagine that, backing a bow in the streets of Boston:) hahah

I dont have any pics, i actually might just trim it in a decorative manner that is a great idea tahnkyou. i will report back tonghit

[Pignut]

Heh, heh...stranger stuff happens on the streets of Boston...  

I think I actually met you at the Poke and Hope.  Were you with Art?  You should be hunting in Boston.  There was a huge 10pt hit by a truck in Woburn, bout ten minutes from the city.

Good luck.

Pete

[Razorbak]

Jake...actually Pete is closer to me..LOL and yep you to met last year at the P&H

[jgbennett6]

fantastic. hahah well i hunted in sudbury and took a nice buck in Sturbridge.i tell ya you got a better chance of winning the lottery than getting permission to hunt in MA:) hahahaha...

[jgbennett6]

ok so i think i might have really messed up these limbs:(.. ok so i tried trimming the skins last night, then i wetted down the edges that were lifted. then super glued them down as best i could, but for some reason some of the edges seem "lifted"...is this ok?...will the trueoil bring them back down, or haev i ruined the limbs, i still have the sand th edges
 
 
 

[Dano]

Jacob, was this skin air dried or tanned? I've never seen a skin lift so much, unless you didn't get enough down. I don't think you damaged the limbs. I'd just remove the skins and start over.

[jgbennett6]

i think tehy were air dried is that the problem, i think i am gonna be doing a bunch of sanding tonight...ugg what a mess, there is glue everywhere.....Thanks for the help guys.

[1gutpile]

air dried is what you want..I think there wasn't enough glue put down and when you wrapped it it folded some...just send them to me bro and I'll fix them for ya....no charge.. sent you a pm..gut