Skinned a set of limbs

[Beendare]

After #3 sanding

I’m putting some Snake Skins on a set of Uukha Selanga‘s. I will take a few pictures through the process. It’s pretty simple. I’m about 45 minutes into it now with the skins clamped on the limb.

1. Clean the face of the limb really good with isopropyl alcohol 91%. If the limb has Graphics or something light colored that you think will shine through. It’s best to spray paint it gloss, black or gloss dark brown first.

2) soak the skins in water. you want to make sure that the skins were not treated with glycerin or anything else and that they were just dry tanned. I soak mine in case there was any salt or any flesh left on them if there is scrape it off. Wipe off excess agua.

3) very lightly sand, the face of the limb. You’re not trying to take the finish off but just give the glue something to grip.



4) clean limb again.

5) test fit the snake skin and cut the end square. I hold mine just a little bit short.

6) apply a thin coat of waterproof wood glue to both the limb and the slightly damp skin

7) they might be OK just getting all the air bubbles out and pressing the skins down with a rag, but I cut strips of a towel and put something a little bit stiffer over the top and clamp them. The strips I’m using are that plastic cardboard material. I have used metal flashing in the past.


Cont

 

[Beendare]

I will give that a day or two to dry then take some pictures of the tricky parts like trimming and cleaning the edges.

The skins I got were massive and probably not ideal for these Uukha limbs. The diamonds on the back of the snake are going to be wider than the limb- a big ass snake!

I have about a foot extra left over

 

[Ddog]

Looking forward to seeing how your limbs turn out.

 

[Beendare]

I have 2 others I did many years ago. The one set of Innos I did back in 2008, still perfect.

It's been cold so I'm giving it another day for the glue to dry before I mess with them.

 

[LostArra]

I don't know if bow camo is necessary but snake skins are the absolute best and just look cool. I'm pretty sure they make the bow more accurate or at least deadlier.

After applying the glue to limb and skin I let it sit for a few minutes before applying the skin. It gets a little tacky and won't slide. I just tape it down with blue painter's tape.
But just like cats, there is more than one way to skin a limb.

 

[Beendare]

I don't know if bow camo is necessary but snake skins are the absolute best and just look cool. I'm pretty sure they make the bow more accurate or at least deadlier.

After applying the glue to limb and skin I let it sit for a few minutes before applying the skin. It gets a little tacky and won't slide. I just tape it down with blue painter's tape.
But just like cats, there is more than one way to skin a limb.

That tape is a good tip the clamps are overkill...maybe next time

I'm thinking I will parrafin the edges on the limb next time too- it's been awhile since I have done this.

 

[primal.wanderings]

Is the bow tune still the same after applying skins?

 

[ErikT]

where did you get the skins?

 

[Beendare]

Tunes the same. I meant to speed check these before and after....but with my other skinned limbs it wasn't enough to make a difference in How that shoot so I didn't bother.

I got the first skins off Ebay, these from a guy on Leatherwall.

 

[Beendare]

Next step is trimming. It's critical to use a very sharp blade- that makes it easy. I pus the blade at a slight angle and run it right down the edge of the limb without digging in. They cut pretty easy.

 

[Beendare]

I always end up having a spot that doesn't cut just right due to glue build up or something which leaves a little skin out past the limb. I either carefully trim again or sand it down with 320 sandpaper. I sand the entire edge of the limb to bring the skin even with the top edge radius on the edge of the limb. Mine is pretty good on first cut.

You can see the skin looks a little frayed on the edge, this is no problem, sand it, then sand lightly between coats of Poly and it smooths right out.


If the skin hangs over that edge can catch on stuff.

 

[Beendare]

Next is to scrape the scales. It's best to get most by scraping lightly with the grain - from front to back of the snake. This typically dent get all of them. I got a little bit aggressive on mine and raised the skin a little. It's important to get all of the scales as thats a point of failure for the finish later.

If you do raise the skin, no problem, sand the face between coats and it will be fine.

The camera focused on my dog instead of my limb. I used the curved edge of the scraper with light strokes.

 

[Beendare]

So this pic shows the few scales I missed, The one thats rust colored in this pic at the corner of the scraper is a scale that I missed with a couple others nearby.

It also shows the tips of some scales where I got too aggressive with my scraper. If you want it perfect keep the back and forth to a minimum. This is a hunting bow that will get banged around, I'm not worried about it being a showpiece.


I'm going to have to wait to finish these. It took me longer to get the old adhesive off of the limb pads than it did to trim up these limbs.I didn't want to use Goof off due to the base solvent so I used Iso Alcohol and a natural cleaner- and it took awhile and got the skin wet in a couple places.

Next- I will hang and spray with polyurethane. I used 5 coats of Gloss on my other limbs then misted with Matt finish to take away the shine. The gloss is supposed to be a harder finish. I sanded smooth between coats on the others but I think with these I will keep the sanding to a minimum only doing a little on the first couple coats for a rougher finish and less shine.

Some guys go over the final product with wax that takes away the shine- many ways to skin a cat with these. I don't do the wax JIC I ever have to add more poly.