skinned advice needed

[rover brewer]

i have a linen backed red oak board bow,I have glued snake skin over that,now do I coat the outside of the skin with glue or just start coating with tru-oil.

[Roy from Pa]

Tru oil.

[ranger 3]

Did you take the scales off?

[T Folts]

I heard you can also use wipe on miwax poly, several coats to build up the finish like tru oil.

[tenbrook]

Originally posted by ranger 3:
Did you take the scales off?

THIS needs to be done......Don't skip it.

[Ken75]

to each his own but i always coat mine with titebond 2 after its cured. works for me anyway

[Pat B]

I also add a thin layer of TBIII over skins before sealing them. Kind of like a vapor barrier. Then 5 to 6 coats of Tru-Oil.  You must get the scales off or they will discolor if you seal over them. Actually the scales are dead skin and the scale scars remain as part of the skins...but the loose transparent thingys that come off easily should be taken off before sealing. d;^)

[don s]

i used a lint remover to get the scales off my skins. then i sealed with 6 or 7 coats of super thin CA glue. i followed a how to post here on trad gang several years ago. duct tape or masking tape wrapped around your hand and swiped over the skin will also work to remove the scales. i had the lint remover handy so thats what i used.
                   don

[rover brewer]

Yes scales are off,I thought I seen somewhere to add a thin coat of tite bond III over it and than tru oil,I think thats what I'll do.Thanks for all the advice,should I go ahead and kill the snake now hehehehehe.