Snake skin

[Allyn T]

Can you use tallow on snake skin or will it cause the skins to rot?

[Handforged]

In what context are we talking here? Curing skins, preserving skins or using tallow on a bow backed with a snake skin?  In any case tallow of any kind will go rancid eventually. There are certainly mixes you can do to keep that from happening but if you're already mixing things together why not just use something else.

[Allyn T]

I was referring to using tallow on a snake skin backed bow. So if tallow always goes rancid why use it as a water proofer at all?

[Handforged]

I was referring to using tallow on a snake skin backed bow. So if tallow always goes rancid why use it as a water proofer at all?

I think there are a lot better solutions than tallow for a bow back. Here's a few other things. Tallow alone is just fat. It will go rancid. For waterproofing, tallow is usually combined with beeswax for a water proofer and leather protectant. The only thing it can be used for in the natural state is cooking and combining in food. 

[Weylin]

Tru oil works great on snake skin.

[Allyn T]

Dang ok I need bee wax then. I do want to try Tru oil too, your bows are beautiful by the way Weylin. Came across you on instagram before I even had a real plan to make a bow

[Eric Krewson]

I have made between 50 and 75  snake backed bows, every one of them had tru-oil on the snake skin.

When you first start out it is easy to get off on a tangent and decide to use something unconventional in your bow making. None of use have ever heard of tallow being used on a snake skinned bow which is a pretty good indication that it shouldn't be, with or without beeswax.

[Allyn T]

I will def avoid using tallow on snake skin