Canebrake Timber Rattler vs. Diamback

[bigcountry]

I got a nice set of timber rattler skins for bow backing.  When I recieved them, they are quite a bit more stiff and heavy than your typical diamondback or prairie rattler.  Both are 35" long but both are very wide.

Is this normal for timber rattlers?  Do they have thicker skin?  Looks like they have tried to dry out with borax.  I am going to wash off the borax and redry without any salt.

[mwmwmb]

Timber rattlers are very thick bodied snakes. I havent worked their skinns yet though.

[Arrowslinger]

Bigcountry, I have two timber ratter skins that I have dried out and they are a lot thicker than other skins I have seen.  I just dried out a copperhead that is the thinnest.  Can't wait to find a match to that one.  It's the best looking skin I have.

[KENDALL TECHAU]

I've used Timber Rattler before. They are thick skinned. I always sanded the flesh side with 220 grit wet/dry sandpaper after I'd cut them to rough limb width and lenght.Don't trim them to close,leave enough to go over the sides of the limbs when you put them on the bow.Eastern Diamondback are thick too.I work them both the same.Allow alittle extra soak time also when your putting them on.Hope this helps. Kendall.

[Pat B]

You will probably have to wrap the timber rattler skins when gluing. With copperhead and the Western rattlers, the skins are thin enough that a wrap is not always necessary. I use strips of old bed sheets to wrap.

[bigcountry]

Pat, I was going to wrap using jute twine or the regular ace bandage.  But the ace, I have trouble with it shifting and I don't know it.

[Eric Krewson]

I like to cut a timber rattler skin down the middle and use the sides for each limb.

Here is the last one I did for my wife.

 

Wrapping a skin while the glue dries on the bow is unnecessary. I put the skin on and spend about 10 minutes centering the pattern and forcing excess glue out with my thumbs. I next trim the skin to within about 1/16th inch of the edge of the limb and continue working any excess glue to the outside pressing hard with my thumbs. After about 30 minutes the glue has dried enough to go to the next limb, the skin is permanently affixed and isn't going anywhere

[bigcountry]

Thats pretty eric.