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Main Boards => The Bowyer's Bench => Topic started by: PEARL DRUMS on July 21, 2011, 07:52:00 AM

Title: Skins on the sides?
Post by: PEARL DRUMS on July 21, 2011, 07:52:00 AM
Anybody wrap skins over the side's of the limbs? How does it work and do they stay put or wrinkle up? I never have done it that way and have a bow that would look nice.

Thanks!
Title: Re: Skins on the sides?
Post by: Art B on July 21, 2011, 08:22:00 AM
I thinks it looks much better Pearly. Not all the way over to the belly but at least half way down the sides of the limb. I've found it's best to pre-plan where you're going to stop the skins so as to leave a blocked edge to where when you're finishing the filing/sanding of the skin you leave a seamless transition between skin and wood, and not an abrupt edge to the skin.

No,they're not going to wrinkle on you......Art
Title: Re: Skins on the sides?
Post by: KellyG on July 21, 2011, 08:26:00 AM
Art if you have any pics of the sides like you are talking about I think it would help Perly and myself for sure. I would like to see the edge with skins going over them.
Title: Re: Skins on the sides?
Post by: scrub-buster on July 21, 2011, 08:35:00 AM
I tried it once and didn't care for the way it looked.  But that's just me.
Title: Re: Skins on the sides?
Post by: PEARL DRUMS on July 21, 2011, 08:47:00 AM
I have a sinew wrap holding a side peel down and wanted to hide it the best I could from the sides and back. Thats my reasoning behind this style. Pics please Artsy, I dont think I can "see" what your saying with the abrupt edge.
Title: Re: Skins on the sides?
Post by: Art B on July 21, 2011, 09:19:00 AM
This is all I have for the moment guys. This is "Semo's Best" with a Texas rat snake skin. Not finished yet, waiting on cooler weather to set the final weight because of the sinewed back.

An abrupt edge is just that Pearly. One that has not been sanded/smoothed/tapered. Didn't have a good pic to show this.

Oh, if I get another virus from this hosting site, going to share that with you also  :readit:  

 http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y232/artcher1/SemosBest024.jpg

 http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y232/artcher1/SemosBest021.jpg
Title: Re: Skins on the sides?
Post by: PEARL DRUMS on July 21, 2011, 09:47:00 AM
I get your drift Art. By the way thats the bow I was asking about. And...........dont you be giving me any of those skanky viruses you have either!!!!
Title: Re: Skins on the sides?
Post by: Eric Krewson on July 21, 2011, 10:00:00 AM
Maybe I am just too picky but I have never see skins draped over the sides of a limb that were cut straight and didn't look amateurish.

I like clean lines on my bows, a top mounted skin always gives me that look.

    (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v181/ekrewson/bow%20making/snake18.jpg)
Title: Re: Skins on the sides?
Post by: SEMO_HUNTER on July 21, 2011, 11:52:00 AM
I've never gotten a virus from photobucket that I could detect.

I love your bow Art, but I'm with Eric on this one. I like the clean looks that I can get by edging off the excess skin with a file at the edge of the top of the limb. I don't think I could get a nice clean line if I draped it over the edge of the bow anyway? Too much thinking involved in that I guess.   :D  
You did a real nice job with yours and it looks awesome, but I doubt that I would have the same results if I tried that.
Title: Re: Skins on the sides?
Post by: Art B on July 21, 2011, 12:19:00 PM
I done 'em both ways Chris. I would have to agree, much easier to cut the skins in on the back of bow. Sometimes the skin itself dictates how far you can go. Like that last mulberry I done. Could only cover it's back. Most times it's personal preference.

But I think Pearly is more concerned about how well it works and how well it'll hold up when gluing down the sides. The answer to that, from my experience, is fine......Art
Title: Re: Skins on the sides?
Post by: PEARL DRUMS on July 21, 2011, 12:32:00 PM
If looks was a concern of mine I would have quit longggg ago, mine are all ugly, bent, twisted, cracked junkers. I just like arrows to fly straight and the bow to stay in my hand when I let the string go, after that its no concern of mine. Im of the Paul Comstock school of thought!  ;)
Title: Re: Skins on the sides?
Post by: KellyG on July 21, 2011, 07:18:00 PM
well I really don't see where either way looks bad. I just hope I can skin a bow like you guys when I grow up. Thanks for the pics both of you and thanks Pearly for asking the question. I would have never thunk of it myself.
Title: Re: Skins on the sides?
Post by: PEARL DRUMS on July 21, 2011, 07:23:00 PM
I think you have just the bow to put some skins on Kelly? Aint nuttin purdier than an osage bow with rattler skins on it. I was a bit leary on my first skin job, now its the easiest part next to starting my chainsaw. Glue them down, trim them up, remove the scales and seal them. Prest-o!!!
Title: Re: Skins on the sides?
Post by: Walt Francis on July 21, 2011, 07:38:00 PM
I think this is the first time my preferences regarding selfbows have varied much from Eric’s.    ;)    

These are pictures of a Rat Snake skin on a bow I donated to St. Jude’s a few years back:

 (http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y91/Slivershooter/StJudes2008005.jpg)


 (http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y91/Slivershooter/StJudes2008013.jpg)
Title: Re: Skins on the sides?
Post by: PEARL DRUMS on July 21, 2011, 07:54:00 PM
I like that alot. It almost looks "backed" with skins. Very clean lines. How did you trim the sides?
Title: Re: Skins on the sides?
Post by: Eric Krewson on July 21, 2011, 10:16:00 PM
Nothing amateurish in the least about your skinning job Walt, looks great!
Title: Re: Skins on the sides?
Post by: SEMO_HUNTER on July 21, 2011, 11:31:00 PM
Very nice Walt, I doubt that I could pull that off and make it look so clean.

Kelly- You got yourself pumped up about snake skins already now, there's only one solution.......you gotta back that osage with a pair of snake skins!

Pearl- I'd say go for it man, whatever looks good to you is what it needs to be, don't matter what anybody else thinks and I'm sure it will look real nice when your done. I don't think I've seen a snake skinned bow I didn't like yet, just some I liked more than others but all perty in their own way. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
Title: Re: Skins on the sides?
Post by: Osagetree on July 22, 2011, 04:35:00 AM
From the back view like to see the yellow wood outline the skins. Kind of like two tone. I'll try and post a pic here later tonight.
Title: Re: Skins on the sides?
Post by: Osagetree on July 22, 2011, 07:26:00 PM
I like this but I am an amature. No offense intended.

 
 (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v323/Osagetree/SWAP%20BOWs/aa1.jpg)
 (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v323/Osagetree/SWAP%20BOWs/aa.jpg)
 (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v323/Osagetree/SWAP%20BOWs/aaa.jpg)