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Author Topic: fish skin backing  (Read 7538 times)

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Offline Matt A

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fish skin backing
« on: February 07, 2012, 05:11:03 pm »
has anyone ever applied fish skin as a backing? if so how did you tan the skin?
I have several Northern Pike skins I would love to see on a bow that I soaked in a borax solution. would that be good enough?
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Offline Parnell

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Re: fish skin backing
« Reply #1 on: February 07, 2012, 05:51:56 pm »
Hello Hitshit,

Do a search for it and check out Keenan Howards bow's, also there will be many other examples.

Did you really soak a bow in a borax solution? ;)  Just messin with ya.

I'm not sure about how to prepare them but I'm wondering if the borax would damage the bow's back over time.  Not sure though.  I'm sure other's will chime in and welcome to PA.
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Offline Pat B

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Re: fish skin backing
« Reply #2 on: February 07, 2012, 07:06:15 pm »
You want to just dry the fish skins just like with snake skins.
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Make the most of all that comes and the least of all that goes!    Pat Brennan  Brevard, NC

Offline EricWard

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Re: fish skin backing
« Reply #3 on: February 07, 2012, 08:50:22 pm »
Hey hitshit glad u made the post ive been wanting to do the same thing and had the same questions. got a friend keeping me the skins from stripper he catches. guess it would be eaiser to scale it while on the fish is that what u did?
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Offline osage outlaw

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Re: fish skin backing
« Reply #4 on: February 07, 2012, 09:38:01 pm »
Would a walleye make a good looking backing?
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Offline Bevan R.

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Re: fish skin backing
« Reply #5 on: February 07, 2012, 09:41:48 pm »
Quote from: osage outlaw on February 07, 2012, 09:38:01 pm
Would a walleye make a good looking backing?
Only if you pull an 'Almostpighunter' and include the mouth and teeth. >:D >:D
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Offline Buckeye Guy

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Re: fish skin backing
« Reply #6 on: February 07, 2012, 11:44:53 pm »
I think you will want to wash that soap off the skins first !
Someone wake up oldtimber ! He should be answering this post as he does a lot of different fish skins on bows !
Guy
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Offline seabass

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Re: fish skin backing
« Reply #7 on: February 08, 2012, 12:15:39 am »
just flesh the skins then tack them on a board to dry.don't use any chemicals.when dry scrub with dawn dish soap to get rid of oils.just like snake skin.check out the how to section.timo has a great how to for carp skins.i have one of his carp skinned bows.it doesn't get any better than that.hope this helps,Steve
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Offline Matt A

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Re: fish skin backing
« Reply #8 on: February 08, 2012, 12:49:53 am »
@ Pat B
i did to a set but if you haven't ever felt a norther pike their skin is VERY slimey. and whenever any moisture touched the dry skin they got all slimey again. the borax and scraping the inside of the skin seemed to get rid of all the unwanted tissue and slime though.
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Offline Matt A

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Re: fish skin backing
« Reply #9 on: February 08, 2012, 12:58:16 am »
@ seabass
i do remember washing a set with dawn dishsoap, unfortunately all the colors in the scales fade fast. think I have to go catch 3 more and do some experimenting. also what adhesive have you used? i tried contact cement but it wouldn't make a good bond like that stuff does on other materials
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Offline Pat B

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Re: fish skin backing
« Reply #10 on: February 08, 2012, 01:08:04 am »
The color or pattern of most fish are in the skin and not the scales. You loose the pattern because you disturb the skin when you scale it. I backed a bow last winter with carp skin from Timo. He had done all the prep work. All I did was rehydrate the skin to wash it with Dawn, rinse it well and glue it to the bow. I think I used TBIII but hide glue would work and probably be better.
  Anything like borax you put on the skin will have to be removed before you glue it down I believe. It will interfere with the adhesion of the skin to the bow.
  Check out Timo's fish skin build along in the "How To" section. If I remember right he was pretty thorough.
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Make the most of all that comes and the least of all that goes!    Pat Brennan  Brevard, NC

Offline Lee Slikkers

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Re: fish skin backing
« Reply #11 on: February 08, 2012, 01:14:04 am »
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Offline Matt A

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Re: fish skin backing
« Reply #12 on: February 08, 2012, 01:27:58 am »
i'll try washing my ones i already have and see what happens and save some fresh skins and try just fleshing, washing, drying and see what I can accomplish thank you!
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Offline loefflerchuck

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Re: fish skin backing
« Reply #13 on: February 08, 2012, 01:42:30 am »
I leave fresh skins in the freezer till I glue em on
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Offline Pat B

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Re: fish skin backing
« Reply #14 on: February 08, 2012, 01:52:30 am »
You can glue them on green like Chuck suggests.
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Make the most of all that comes and the least of all that goes!    Pat Brennan  Brevard, NC
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