Sanding skins with Tru-oil finish?

[wolfshadow]

I’ve got 6 coats of Tru-oil on an Osage bow. The wood sands nicely, but the snake skins are rough.  Can I smooth the them with steel wool? Yes, I pulled all the scales off the skins.
    The rough skin seems like it will fray the the string loop as I string and unstring.

[Pat B]

I use 0000 steel wool between coats of Tru-Oil. It works well. You can burnish the edges of the snake skins with a smooth round object like the shank of a screw driver to compress it and help protect it from fraying.

[wolfshadow]

Thanks. I’ll try it.

[rainman]

I put on 3 heavy coats, then start sanding between coats with 400 grit wet dry sandpaper.  12 to 13 coats will make the skin look like it is under glass.

[bucknut]

Beware!!   You can rub thru the skin fairly easily down toward the tail even with 0000 steel wool.

[wolfshadow]

Gods caution. Thanks!