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.
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.
Yea, that is what I was wondering, if they would shrink up as they dry. Thanks!
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.
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.
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
(http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb364/gabedard/Woodbury-20130108-00406.jpg)
Good luck
Glenn
I don't soak for an hour, 10-15 minutes at most.
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.
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.