snakey bows

[camocowboy]

How about a showcase here of your snake-backed bows. Reptile art!

[the Ferret]

[Flatstick]

I thinks I  smell'a fish in there Ferret?

[Lewis Brookshire III]

I think its carp your smeelin, and If I had to guess its the bottom one. Man Ferret those are some SWEET lookin bows. I have always wanted a snakey selfbow. You make em' to sell??

[the Ferret]

Lol yup that's my Timo bow "Alpha Static" outfitted with carp skins on the bottom. As purty as any snake which is saying alot for the skins of a garbage fish.

The rest are from top..western diamond back, prairie rattler, mojave rattler,eastern diamond back, copperhead and bull snake

ROH..no sir, sorry.

[Lewis Brookshire III]

Thats too bad, I will have to learn how to make em one day. I am limited to board bows for now. I REALLY like that bullsnake bow thats right above the carp one. That stave has alot of character and those skins are gorgeous.

[LazerRay]

Nice

[ber643]

Hate snakes but love them Snakey and Snakebacked bows. Finally got a Snaky one of my own - from friend Dano, as previously seen in these pages.

[Okie man]

I saw some snakey osage bows last weekend at OK Wildlife Expo.  Ralph Renfrow and Todd Weldon were building bows there.  I got to talk to Todd some and he is first class friendly.  Ralph was covered up with people asking question.  I caught Todd when he was  busy with the drawknife on a stave and he stopped and answered all of my questions and mae me feel like an old friend.  This is why I love traditional archery.  Great folks willing to share knowledge and time with a stranger.

[archrmn]

Any drawback to using snake skin backings such as ;seperation,fadeing,or sealing issues.

[the Ferret]

None I have found.

[Titan_Bow]

I've done one osage selfbow with snake skins, and I'm working on a yew bow that I'd like to skin.
 I've seen some folks that are able to get a smooth-as-glass finish over skins and I'm wondering whats the secret?  On the one I did, I used masking tape to get all the scales off, and smoothed on a coat of superglue on the skins and let that dry.  I finished it with wipe-on poly and it turned out nice, but you still see the texture of the skin. I was hoping for a glass-smooth finish.  Any pointers??

[Huntrdfk]

I never tire of seeing those bows Mickey, great looking bows......

David

[Shawn Leonard]

Mickey, they are stunning!! Shawn

[Flatshooter]

Hey Jonathan, I use up to five coats of super glue very light with light sanding ( 220 grit) between each coat. I finish off with three to five light coats of polyurethane, light steel wool between each coat. Almost looks like skins are under glass. Good luck