gluing on snake skins

[Stump73]

Just got another 6ft rat snake yesterday and have skinned,fleshed, stretched, tacked and dried it. Now that its dry I was wondering if I could use tbll to glue it? I know Yall say tblll but I have tbll. Also I have tri oil and finish it, Should I put a coat of glue on top after I remove the scales?

[DVSHUNTER]

tb2 will work.  I use tb3 some people use elmers glue.  I think tru oil looks the best over snake skins, but I also thing that it is very fragile overs skins because in my experience it has been scratched easily with a fingernail and hard pressure.  Shellac over skins worked better for me. Poly also seemes tuff.  I don't put a coat of glue on after and never have.  Maybe that is why my tru oil seemed soft.

[Stiks-n-Strings]

I don't ever seal the scale side with glue. I just use a good finish over them. Tru oil is great for skins. I may try the shellac DVS, I have also used a Massey finish with good results. I don't recommend sealing with super glue. Some folks do it but I really didn't like the results.

[rainman]

Dave sounds like you had old Tru Oil.

[Roy Steele]

Any white wood glue will do. I used them all but the last couple I used TB111.

[DVSHUNTER]

I thought that too Dan and its possiblible, but the bottle was brand new.  It stumps me.  I may just go with shellac from now on. or spray on poly.

[rainman]

Dave next one you get ready to do, let me know I will show you how I do them.

[Stump73]

Thanks fella's! I them up last night about 9 p.m. I woke about 2 a.m. hearing a noise like a mouse chewing the skins up. I turned the light on saw one of the skins pulling up. So I removed it carefully and resoaked  it. This time I added more glue. It was pulling up in curve of the limb. I guess becauuse of it being a recurve. This morning I woke up and saw the edges were trying to curl up so I added glue back in that area and heldit  down until the glue started to hold. What is the best way to trim it up on the limb? I was thinking a razed blade to get it close then come back with sandpaper to get it flush with the limb.  Is 200 grit sand paper o.k. because that's what I use to finish most of my wood projects.

[scrub-buster]

I wrap sandpaper around a block of wood and lightly sand the edges of the limbs.  It will sand through the skin and leave a clean edge.

[rainman]

Next one you try, strategically wrap tape around the bow to keep the skin from lifting.  I use maksing tape and after gluing wrap the whole skin onto the bow.

[OzarkMatt]

When I glued my rattler skins up, I used TB2 and then placed plastic wrap over the skins and then wrapped the limbs with bicycle innertubes. I used a razor blade to trim the excess and then sanded a nice clean line in. Protip: Mix a little water in with the TB2 and lightly swab the wood and skins before applying the rest of your regular-thickness glue. Give the thinned stuff a minute to soak in, it'll help adhesion. Pay very close attention to bubbles under the skins, try and work them out but if some show up after your done curing, poke a small hole with a needle and squirt some of the glue in there. They will usually suck in.