Author Topic: Koi Fish Skin Backing?  (Read 2271 times)

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Offline Ryan Jacob

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Koi Fish Skin Backing?
« on: October 16, 2017, 08:18:29 pm »
What do you think of using koi skins over sinew? My koi just died... :(
Now, how do I post a photo again?

Offline DuBois

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Re: Koi Fish Skin Backing?
« Reply #1 on: October 16, 2017, 08:43:46 pm »
Sorry for your loss?
Heck yes use that skin! Must have been a big Koi

Offline Ryan Jacob

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Re: Koi Fish Skin Backing?
« Reply #2 on: October 16, 2017, 08:55:02 pm »
It's fine, It's going to be eaten, the skins going on a bow, and the bladder and gills are going to become glue, so it's not as big of a loss. Yeah it's huge.

Offline Morgan

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Re: Koi Fish Skin Backing?
« Reply #3 on: October 16, 2017, 09:20:19 pm »
I've seen some koi that had beautiful markings. If the patterns and colors hold, could make a dramatic and very pretty bow back. How do you guys prepare fish skins for backs?

Offline Dakota Kid

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Re: Koi Fish Skin Backing?
« Reply #4 on: October 16, 2017, 10:31:56 pm »
The colors will more than likely dull considerably. It might not be a bad idea to use some translucent pigments over the skin before the final finishing. Mixing paint with clear coat can get you translucent paint. That's very similar to the way taxidermists paint fish mounts. I considered getting into painting fish mounts at one point, just because I had the airbrush experience already, but never got around to it.

I have never used fish skins on a bow so I have no advice on how to prep them. Several members have, so hang in there someone will chime in.
I have nothing but scorn for all weird ideas other than my own.
~Terrance McKenna

Offline High-Desert

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Re: Koi Fish Skin Backing?
« Reply #5 on: October 17, 2017, 12:00:12 am »
They are a carp, and some guys on here have used carp skins for backing.
I've never used carp, just sturgeon. Make sure the skins are really good and degreased.
Eric

Offline FilipT

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Re: Koi Fish Skin Backing?
« Reply #6 on: October 17, 2017, 03:10:57 am »
How big was that fish?

Offline Ryan Jacob

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Re: Koi Fish Skin Backing?
« Reply #7 on: October 17, 2017, 06:37:11 am »
I was thinking of using it on the hande and tips instead of the limbs to make sure I wouldn't get the sinew wet again. I just scraped it clean and am salting it. It was about three feet long. If I wanted to back a bow, I would wait till a bigger one died, the one with more color. This one is pretty plain in some spots.
« Last Edit: October 17, 2017, 06:41:40 am by Ryan Jacob »

Offline Orrum

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Re: Koi Fish Skin Backing?
« Reply #8 on: October 17, 2017, 07:43:53 am »
This is interesting, how do you get the scales off and is a lot of the color in the scales?
Knapping....If your hobby does not consume you then you have no hobby.

Offline Greenriverwoodcraft

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Re: Koi Fish Skin Backing?
« Reply #9 on: October 17, 2017, 09:33:48 pm »
I love using fish skin! I find that lots of times the colors are on the skins and it not all in the scales.  I just soak the skins in soapy water and scrub the hell out of them and I have had no problems.

Offline Ryan Jacob

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Re: Koi Fish Skin Backing?
« Reply #10 on: October 18, 2017, 04:00:25 am »
I got the scales of very carefully with kitchen tongs. On this koi, only some of the color came off. They’re pretty dry now but I’ll wait one more day to be safe.