Question for Clay, et al

[tailfeather]

#3776

What would be your preferred finish for a snakeskin-backed, hickory selfbow? I’m thinking Tru-oil over the whole bow. Does that adequately seal and protect the skins, or are they still easy to damage?

[David Petersen]

#23722

Hey Tailfeather — Et Al here to plug up the silence until Clay and others more experienced than me return to chime in. I don’t think oil is the right stuff for skins. They need to be sealed with a hard finish. In my very limited experience I’ve used brush-on spar poly to very good effect … the same thing I finish all my wood bows with. You could use spray-on also. I have one of Clay’s Osage selfbows and the exposed wood is oil finished while the very large-scaled rattler skin has a hard clear finish, poly or something similar. With poly, the glossier it is the harder and tougher it is. I’ve found that satin poly doesn’t last very long (same is true for hardwood floors), but then gloss is … glossy. Good luck.

[tailfeather]

#23899

Thanks for the input, Dave. I’m finishing up a new bow, that if I don’t break it, will be snakeskin backed. That makes more sense…..I’ve been wondering how durable skins would be if not sealed under something hard. Wonder how much draw weight the skins and poly add?

Joe

[Stephen Graf]

#24491

I second what Dave said. Tru-oil is too soft and makes the skin gummy.

As for not sealing the skins, I think that would be a bad idea. Mostly because the pattern and colors are enhanced by the finish (just like wood). Why go to all that trouble and not make it pretty?

[Clay Hayes]

#25904

I just use poly. It seals everything up nice. The only thing you’ll need to watch is that the edges of the skin are glued down well. snake skin backings tend to lift at the edges if you don’t pay special attention.

[tailfeather]

#26110

Thanks, fellas.

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