halibut backed yew

[fujimo]

i have some nice yew boards- all heartwood- that i aim to back with halibut skin- should i back them with hickory first then the halibut over that- or would the yew not need the tension wood(thinking about it replacing the sap wood layer).
if i did then the halibut would just be decorative and added insurance( which is still a good idea-eh?)
and for a bend through the handle bow- can i splice two skin backings in the handle area-or should it be one piece.
thanks
wayne

[Keenan]

You can't get any better the yew sapwood for tension wood. Just skin over the yew. Even if it's just heart wood the skins of halibut are fairly tough and will protect well. But You will be double protected with the sapwood on

[fujimo]

yup, for sure keenan, just these boards that i salvaged- dont have the sapwood on- sadly!!.

[rainman]

I would back with Bamboo or Hickory, Hickory is easier to prep but I think bamboo looks better and performs better.

[fujimo]

thanks rainman, the halibut is really nice looking and tough,and would be neat to have both sources from right around my house on the island here! how would the halibut go over a boo lam backing( a boo board).
i dont have to use the backing strips, i just want to do it if it will make a better bow- i dont mind the extra work.

[Curt Brisky]

I haven't had much luck with Hickory on Yew boards.  Tried several and not one made it. They were all 65-70# so a lighter bow might make it.  I went to bamboo and haven't had a problem.  Be careful to keep the bow limbs narrow or you will run out of heart wood.  Hope to see a picture on this site. God bless

[StoneAK]

I would also like to see the pics with the halibut skins.

[fujimo]

sure will, as soon as i get them glued up.
can i splice the skins at the handle for a bend thru the handle design- i dont let my handles bend too much!!

[ranger 3]

If the skins are just for looks, then you can splice them at the handle.

[paoloi]

I just backed one with a bunch of goldfish.  

[fujimo]

yup, the golden era of bowmaking is upon us:)

jokes aside, that halibut skin is one tough S.O.G.
for those of you that have never seen it, they have no scales- smooth like rawhide, brown, with blotches- sea bottom camo.
but good camo for this side of the boardwalk too!

[rainman]

Apply the skin just like you would rawhide or snake skin.  It should follow the nodes in the bamboo.  I would use Titebond 3 but titebond 2 will also work.  Does the Halibut feel more like rawhide in thickness or snake skin?

[AKmud]

Halibut skin is thin (like snake skin I imagine).

[fujimo]

nope, pretty thick and tough (in comparison to other fish skins) like thinnish deer rawhide- not at all like other fish skin.

[AKmud]

I've handled a LOT of halibut....  How thick is thick?  Even on big 'but (over 100#), the skin is maybe 1/16".  I agree it is very tough...I've never handled snake skin that I can remember.

[fujimo]

yup that would kinda be the measurement for thinnish deer raw hide.
snake skin is quite a bit thinner, and almost "papery"- and it truly is just decorative.
arent they just the nicest fish fresh- the smaller ones that is.
where about in ak. are you- we can see southern ak. on a clear day from our north beach.( sorry - dont know where wasilla is mate!)
hope i wasnt being argumentative in my reply- jus' rambling away.
when does your halibut season open-ours is just about to open.
take care.
wayne

[rainman]

I would be willing to trade for some Halibut skins.  Can get plenty of Osage or Hickory.

[fujimo]

pm sent to ya, rainman
thanks

[AKmud]

No offense take Fujimo, I was just curious about your description.  I haven't handled snakes and the deer hide I have used was closer to 3/16" thick at the thinnest I could remember.  

We can fish halibut all year but in the winter the saltwater is rough and the fish go deep so folks generally start fishing around now through late October.  I'm just getting the boat geared up for this year.  Looking forward to getting out on the water.  I'll have to remember to hang on to the skins this year.  

[D]

I've never heard of anyone putting fish skins on as a backing.  Never delt with any halibut we don't catch to many down here in tennessee. lololol but I would love to see some pics of the skins used on a bow.  I think they would pretty good.