Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: stuckinthemud on December 11, 2021, 06:27:44 am
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There's been some discussion on backing with sturgeon and wolf fish recently. I guess only certain types of fish can be used? What should I look for? I believe some types, like eel, can be used as a structural element as an alternative to rawhide, but others are used more as decoration. What types work well, what should I look for/avoid. I really want to know about species I might find in a fish mongers, for instance, can I use things like monkfish, Pollock or hake?
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Carp makes a good backing, and they get large, that is the only one I have used. Pappy
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I have used walleye skins as accents for decoration. Finding a fish large enough is difficult though. From looking online I have really only seen carp and sturgeon skins used. I have two 30 inch chinook salmon skins in the freezer that I am waiting to use as a test, however those come from a big salmon that are not very common in most places. I look forward to other people's input into this tooo!
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I have a sinew backed Jay Massey bow that has halibut skin on it. It's not very decorative with it's flat gray color but adds water proofing and protects the sinew backing.
I think any fish skin that is big enough could be used as a bow backing.
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Had a chat with my nearest fishmonger, he's happy to let me have skins but reckons salmon are the largest fish he deals with. Would salmon work?
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I’ve been wanting to try catfish. It’s strong as hell
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Stuck, any fish skin should work. The decorative value varies with species but I think any would look cool. Salmon should work good. It is oily so be sure to degrease before using. You can either freeze for storage for a short time or tack them out to dry.
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I've often wondered whether you could piece perch skins together for a non structural backing. Perch skins were also used as glue in some 2-wood bows, I believe
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Sure you could. Most fish skins are only decorative or moisture proofing.
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Thanks , Pat. Maybe even more interesting if you made glue from it, and also attached the perch skins with it. It's coming up ice fishing time shortly, perch season....
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Gray triggerfish skin is a very good backing for adding strength to the back. It’s not particularly decorative, and it requires overlapping several skins, but in my book, it’s nature’s fiberglass.
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I tanned a strip of salmon skin and it is tough stuff. would add protection and some strength
Not so stunning as it has shade of gray but being a little transparent I bet you can do some color work on the bow and apply the skin over it
If you go salmon skin try to find the right pressure/tool to take off the scales from the skin or you will ruin the pattern
look the "scar" I made in the left top for using the knife too aggressively
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How did you tan it?
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The best looking fish skins I have seen on a bow were grass carp skins done by John Scifres
Here is a tutorial on his web page that he did on applying them.
https://sticknstring.webs.com/carpskinningabow.htm
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I wouldn't tan the fish skin but dry them or apply them green just like with snake skins.
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I wouldn't tan the fish skin but dry them or apply them green just like with snake skins
+1
this was not intended to be a bow backing
How did you tan it?
I did yolk (mayonnaise also do work) method but there are different methods online
here is the post http://www.primitivearcher.com/smf/index.php/topic,69430.msg973948.html#msg973948
as Pat suggested for bow backing use simple rawhide
degrease before gluing as fish skins tend to be oily
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Do you salt the skin when you flay it?
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Do not salt. That just adds a few extra steps with no benefit. Just tack it out on a board, flesh side up and let it dry.
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Thanks Pat. For making fish skin leather, is smoking it an essential last step? Saw a guide on line but I don't see why you need to do this
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I don't believe smoking fish skins is necessary either. That is a process in brain tanning animal hides. There may be a way to make the fish skins softer for other uses than bow backing but I'm not familiar with that.
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A coworker has backed several bows with northern pike with good results.