but it works equally well for bows. In this video Clay Hayes shows how to back a sinew backed osage recurve bow. I have some copper head skins I’ve been saving if I ever make a really good bow… And I have tried the cloth look alike skins you can get from 3rivers and Kustom King. Hey folks, thought I’d try a live demo showing how to put a snake skin on a primitive sinew backed recurve bow. Mineral spirits or regular rubbing alcohol will work well for this. These are the same ones we use on our bows … A good snap-knife is a useful tool to have on hand. Ask the experts: 260.587.9501 | Customer Service, Call Us: 260.587.9501 | Customer Service. I like to have the diamonds on a diamond back or the circles or rings on a prairie rattler cover the full width of the bow and this means shopping around to find two matching skins of the same taper and length and width. The process starts by dehydrating the snake skins so they will lay flat and conform to the bow's back. A snake skin bow support can be a lovely addition to any standard bow. In the future, I will put the bow in some sort of form to help hold the reflex while applying the skin and while allowing it to dry: It's a sineew backed juniper bow. The tradition of backing bows with snake skins goes back generations. Approximately 32" to 40" long. They are much more reasonably priced. I'll be glueing onto an extremely lumpy and knarled piece of hornbeam. Follow the directions. It can be created by giving a snake hide or swamp snake hide and a small fee of coins to a tanner, the specific amount depending on the type of hide and the particular tanner. For drying skins, we recommend using cardboard and a stapler. Stay a while and learn something. Welcome to the Archer's Den. A snake skin bow backing can be a beautiful addition to any traditional bow. Less expensive than real snakeskin, yet just as attractive, these Artificial Snakeskin Backings are an affordable and effective way to back your bow. Be careful. I’ve done a number of bows with snake skin, but it started getting expensive. A snake skin bow backing can be a beautiful addition to any traditional bow. We recommend Titebond III or Barge Cement for gluing the skin to the back of your bow. Do not staple your hands or furniture. Grayvn Traditional Bows has crafted this amazing bow from sturdy solid white sapwood hickory. This method will work for any selfbow, wood bow, longbow or recurve. They work pretty well too. Small Game – Squirrel, Rabbit, Grouse, etc. Hide glue can be made by boiling down sinew so it is more than compatible with a sinew backing when glueing a snake skin to it. Any more info, pass it along. Snakeskin is used in the Crafting skill to make snakeskin armour. In this primitive bow building video Clay Hayes shows how to back a selfbow with artificial snake skin. Watch the pattern of the skin as you tack it down. Privacy Policy Terms of Use. Wrapping with an old t-shirt or ace bandage will help keep the skins in place and tight against the bow while drying.After the skins are dry you'll need to trim them to fit the bow's back. Apply a spray contact cement over the back of the snakeskin. A bead of superglue around the edge will lock the edges in place and create a nice transition from the bow to the skins.Once everything is dry, several coats of tru-oil will seal everything up and make a nice finish to protect the bow. 4. Epoxy is also recommended for glass bows if you want permanent adhesion. Allow that to dry. Cloth Snakeskin Backing - Each We are really happy with these cloth snake skin backings. Tom I layer fiberglass tape for this bow backing....and I think this one is going to work out! to your bow with a snakeskin backing. Spray enough to completely cover the back of the leather, but not so much that the snakeskin is dripping. when applying snakeskin backing to your bow. They require 30 Ranged and Defence to wear. I usually have a bowyers … Barge Cement works well on glass bows in case you want to remove the Snakeskin someday. I was thinking of trying to back this bow with some fish skin. To seal and finish the skin, use Tru-Oil Finish, a gun stock finish available from many traditional archery stores.