my latest little hunter 50" hard maple (50# @ 26)

[mullet]

Did you scale them? When I did the one on the saya of my practice and cutting sword they turned kinda light blue.

[half eye]

Eddie, yep I descaled them with some packing tape and everything that come off looked black on the tape. They are real tough scales so it took 4-5 go arounds to get 'em all. After the glue was dry I give the skin a single coat of satin pure lacquer then the usual pitch/grease/wax finish. The lacquer was put on to make sure nothing in the finish would hurt the skin....I dont know if that was necessary or not, but thats what I did.
rich

[H Rhodes]

I am just getting in on the tail end of this one (and i am apparently better off  ) - beautiful bow Rich!  That rattler skin really pops on that maple stick.  Great work. 

[GB]

Great looking bow!  Love those skins, too.