Got a rattlesnake for the backing on my Sky Archery bow.

[spectr17]

Why I wear snake gaitors. Thanks Minh and Eric, he'll look good on the bow.

Crotalus oreganus helleri - Southern Pacific Rattlesnake (=Crotalus helleri)

http://www.californiaherps.com/snake...o.helleri.html

Info on how to glue a snakeskin backing to a bow. http://www.3riversarchery.com/snakeskinbacking.asp

One question since I've never added a snake skin backing, do I put glycerin on the snake skin first or just skin it and dry it and then glue it? Thanks.

[DirtyDave]

I heard that the glycerin makes it so the glue wont stick. I have 2 nice skins that I used the glycerin method on, but I have yet to come up with a project for them.

[Pierpont]

I just did a snake last week with glycerine/denatured alcohol 50/50 mix, this seems to have worked pretty well skin is soft but not too oily I have yet to try gluing it to anything, time for a new summer hat, planning on a making a band. I'll let you know how it goes.

[spectr17]

On the board drying. Yeah Gray said no oil or glycerin so the glue will stick.

[PowDuck]

Nice looking skin!!!

Everything I've read generally says to dry it and glue it. No tanning necessary.

[Pierpont]

Just pulled mine off the board, I'll second the no glycerine I think it will work for my purpose, and it is nice and pliable, but a little oily, may not glue too well, probably not durable enough for a bow. That is a nice looking skin, can't wait to see the final product.

[dblsmk]

I've never tried glycerine on a skin. With some woods of a high oil/resin content I'll prep the glue area with acetone before glueing, no joint failure yet. If I had an oily skin I'd wipe the side to be glued with a slightly dampened rag, then try an apply using an 'oil based' adhesive.