Snake skin application question

[Lefty]

Going to try my hand at snaking a bow and had a question that after reading the other threads and how to's, I never seen addressed.  Where the two skins come together in the middle of the handle is there anything special I need to do to keep them from pulling away from each other as the skins and glue dries?  My plans are to use TB3 if that make a difference.

[scrub-buster]

Nope.  I just butt them together and put a leather handle wrap over them.  They don't shrink up if that's what you are thinking.

[Lefty]

Yea, that is what I was wondering, if they would shrink up as they dry.  Thanks!

[Bowjunkie]

The more you rehydrate a skin, the more it will shrink as ot dries... so just dampen it. Snakeskins don't bloat and shrink as much as rawhide though.

[Lefty]

Bowjunkie, are you recommending that I do not soak the skins to rehydrate?  Most of the instructions that I have read say to soak skins for a hour.

[Igor]

I overlapped them - cut with a very sharp razor blade then wrapped that area with a 2" strip of old sheet and they butted nicely....the wrap may not have been necessary...just make sure you don't glue starve any area and work the extra glue/air bubbles to the edge...if using TBIII you have enough time....


Not a great photo but the only one I have of the overlap job on a Bruin recurve

 
Good luck
Glenn

[Prairie Drifter]

I don't soak for an hour, 10-15 minutes at most.

[scrub-buster]

Same here, 10-15 minute soak.  No need for an hour.  Use your hand to squeege the water off of them and lay them on a towel for a minute.  You don't want them dripping wet.

[John Scifres]

I just get them wet enough to relax them.  I wet them, wipe a little with a rag and leave them to sit until I put them on the bow.  I never soak.  It doesn't take much to make them pliable.