SCALES

[kylerprochaska]

so i tried a damp paper towel and then some painters tape....but then a lightbulb lit up above my head....LINT ROLLER!!!  just rolled it over the skins a few times and it took the loose scales right off!  Just thought I'd let you guys know....don't know if anyone else has thought of this but it works great!      

-Ky

[wkominos]

Thanks for the tip.

[Josh]

cool, what kinda skins were they though... some snake species' skins are thicker than others...  Cool tip!     -josh

[kylerprochaska]

Josh, they were western diamond back
-Ky

[Dano]

Steel wool works for me.

[zeNBowyer]

I  don't take  the scales  off,
if they  pop  off  fine,  not  sure  why  people  feel  the  need to  take them  off,
when  the  skin  dries and  you  apply a resin  coating they stay  on  fine,
I  think they  provide  more  strength  and  protection  to  the  bow

[Dano]

Zen, what kind of resin and how many have you done like that?

[wodpow]

the  rattlers skins I have used were kind of heavy scaled the big snakes must of needed to shed. After glue down masking tape took all the scale skin off.  On younger thin skinned snake skin if its not got 100% glue contact it can rip just like it was paper my bows all get three coats of tru-oil then after it dries a couple days  0000 steel wool in between coats help take that rasp like texture down to where it don't make that loud rasping sound if it rubs on heavy cotton camo after seven or eight coats of tru-oil   the edges will be smooth and won't make that ripping sound when rubbed on anything

[zeNBowyer]

I've  done3   bows  all  with  scales  on,
using tightbond glue  for  applying  the skins
and  coating  with  various  clear coats

[kylerprochaska]

I guess by scales i didnt mean the actual scales...just the layer of skin the snake was to shed next...the armor is still there

-Ky

[Dano]

Zen, the reason I ask is, eventually the scales will lift and leave white spots under the finish. That's the reason for getting all the scales off. 

[zeNBowyer]

I don't think that  is  true  if  you put  a  good clear  finish  on,
I think  if  you  are  looking  for that  furniture buffed look on the  bow
it  makes sense  to  take the scales  off

[NTD]

snakes always look their best after a shed.  I prefer to give them that last shed.  Duct tape has worked fine for me.  I found that my python/boa skins were way more difficult to get that last shed off when compared to rattlers.  Shoot the rattlers I could just rub my hand down the skin and they flaked right off.

[El Destructo]

Try soaking the Raw Snake Skin in Denatured Alcohol for a couple Days...I do this....and the Outer Skin on the Scales just floast off in the Soulution........JMO

[Pappy]

I just rub and wash them good in the water I soak them in and most loose ones will come off Then dry them with a rag and glue them on,then rub from head to tail with a dry rag or like Dano,fine steel wool after they are dry on the bow.I tried the duct tap and with thicker skins it dose fine ,but thin ones like copper heads and some water snakes I have used ,if you ant careful it will tear the skin. 
   Pappy