Trad Gang

Main Boards => The Bowyer's Bench => Topic started by: tippit on July 15, 2016, 11:00:00 AM

Title: Has Anyone Taken Skins Off a Bow & Reused Them?
Post by: tippit on July 15, 2016, 11:00:00 AM

I have a special bow for me...one of Bill Matlock's personal bows that has Cobra skins. The bow is now too heavy for me and I'd like to reduces the weight...but to get enough weight off I'll need to grind glass off on back & belly. Ruining the Cobra skins would ruin the bow.

Question: Does anyone have experience in removing skins and being able to reuse them? tippit

  (http:// [url=http://imgur.com/JoRkJrV] [img]http://i.imgur.com/JoRkJrV.jpg?2)[/url] [/IMG]

  (http:// [url=http://imgur.com/D1SIIUx] [img]http://i.imgur.com/D1SIIUx.jpg?2)[/url] [/IMG]

Title: Re: Has Anyone Taken Skins Off a Bow & Reused Them?
Post by: Eric Krewson on July 16, 2016, 07:22:00 PM

I have removed several snake skins from bows to refinish the bow or correct a problem, they all came off in little pieces.

Title: Re: Has Anyone Taken Skins Off a Bow & Reused Them?
Post by: tippit on July 17, 2016, 05:53:00 AM

That's what I was afraid of.

Title: Re: Has Anyone Taken Skins Off a Bow & Reused Them?
Post by: jsweka on July 17, 2016, 09:33:00 PM

How much weight are you looking to drop?  You can drop 5 - 10 # by narrowing the limbs which will allow you to keep the skins on it.

Title: Re: Has Anyone Taken Skins Off a Bow & Reused Them?
Post by: tippit on July 18, 2016, 08:58:00 PM

I need to drop 17# so I need to grind glass back & belly plus trap limbs.  I just dropped 15 pounds on a sister Matlock with Canebrake skins but wasn't able to save the entire skin backing.  So I just used skins over the riser like I'd seen Dean Torges do once...tippit

  (http:// [url=http://imgur.com/Pm0kNLX] [img]http://i.imgur.com/Pm0kNLX.jpg?2)[/url] [/IMG]

  (http:// [url=http://imgur.com/SqdFAXg] [img]http://i.imgur.com/SqdFAXg.jpg?2)[/url] [/IMG]

  (http:// [url=http://imgur.com/dVun5pp] [img]http://i.imgur.com/dVun5pp.jpg?2)[/url] [/IMG]

Title: Re: Has Anyone Taken Skins Off a Bow & Reused Them?
Post by: PEARL DRUMS on July 19, 2016, 10:40:00 AM

The glue used originally can make all the difference. If a wood glue of sorts was used it will peel off nicely, usually. Sometimes you need a razor blade to coax areas along.