snakeskin cresting

[Justin Snyder]

What is the best way to finish the skins when you crest an arrow with snakeskin?  If you do a good job gluing will the edges stay in place when you shoot? Do you ever wrap the edges of the skin.  I have a couple of snakes that are just right size to crest arrows. The scales on these things are so small you can hardly tell they have scales.    Justin

[Pat B]

Justin, On the few snake skin crestings I've done I just glued them down and sealed with Tru-Oil. So far no problem. The skins should be thin like copperheads and western and prarrie rattler skins. Eastern D Back and big timber rattlers are too thick. IMO. I believe there is a build-a-long on TradGang about snake skin cresting of arrows.     Pat

[Justin Snyder]

Thanks Pat, I was thinking about putting a 2" crest or maybe 2 1" on the Southern Community bow arrows. Justin

[Pat B]

They will look sharp!!!   The ones I did had about 5"-6" of skin, some under the fletching and some just below the fletching.   Pat

[Justin Snyder]

Do the fletchings stay good glued over the snake?  I can always get more of these little buggers maybe Ill do 6". Justin

[Hillbilly]

One of the fairly recent back issues if PA has an article that Mickey wrote about snakeskin cresting for arrows. I have a PatB copperhead crested arrow that's really cool looking.

[Pat B]

I believe I used fletch tape over skins.   Pat

[Justin Snyder]

I remember that article Hillbilly. I just cant remember which issue it was.  Justin

[Justin Snyder]

I found it Hillbilly. "Simple Snakeskin Arrow Cresting" by Mickey Lotz  Summer 2005     Justin

[NorthernArcher]

I think a snake skin crest directly under the fletching would look really cool.  And the sinew wraps on either end of the fletching would ensure that the ends of the crest never peel up, regardless of what kind of finish is used.  And with a spiral wrap, the feathers wouldn't even have to be glued down.  In fact, the seam of the crest could even be cut at an angle so that one of the fletches covered it when placed on at an angle.

I'm going to have to give this a try.