Odd snake skin question

[Eric Krewson]

I am doing a bunch of tests with a water snake skin from Texas. I have dyed a piece of osage various colors to see which one enhances the darkened colors of the applied skin which is a little bland but has potential.

The flesh side of the skin is really vibrant with a very impressive pattern.

Anybody ever glue on a skin with the flesh side out out? Of course the scales will have to be removed first.

[Eric Krewson]

Well,never mind. I glued on a strip of flesh side skin on a test piece and it curled away from the bow as it dried.

[Killdeer]

Bummer, Eric. Thanks for the lesson.
Killdeer

[Orion]

Eric:  Rather than dye the back of the bow, I dye the snakeskin from the belly side with an alcohol based dye.  I expect oil and water-based dyes would work as well.  Works real nice to enrich the color.