i want to back a self bow .i want to put rawhide and then snake skin .do i just use tight bond 3 glue ?
Yes, you can use TB II or TB III. I find TB III is thinner, not to say that is better, but it is water resistant.
What kind of wood are you using? Are you backing it in hopes to avoid a break or are you doing it for the interest in doing it? IMHO snakeskin and TB II will hold down splinters in most woods. Leather backing tends to take away from performance of the bow to a slight degree. Though, use the leather if you're pushing the bow to its limits!
I didn't know that about Snake skin, kool. As for the leather I agree with Osage, I have heard the samething from others...more so when board bows are being done.
good info i just backed a 56" osage with elk leg sinew using hide glue then with tite bond 2 put on some whitetail rawhide thinned down by sanding and scraping so far so good