Author Topic: snake skin scales (Read 6845 times)

broken arrow · « **on:** February 05, 2009, 10:42:47 pm »

I have a pair of matching diamond back skins, they have scales still on.

It seems everyones takes the scales off, why is this? They look really good on there, is it a weight issue?

what is a good method for taking the scales off, I have heard about the packing tape tearing skns

winston

knightd · « **Reply #1 on:** February 05, 2009, 10:47:47 pm »

Duck tape works for me..

brownhillboy · « **Reply #2 on:** February 05, 2009, 10:55:10 pm »

I followed knightd's advice and used duct tape on my copperhead skins without any problems.

broken arrow · « **Reply #3 on:** February 05, 2009, 11:05:26 pm »

why take them off?

sailordad · « **Reply #4 on:** February 05, 2009, 11:15:33 pm »

i believe(never used them myself) people remove the scales to allow the beauty of the skin
to show thru better

FlintWalker · « **Reply #5 on:** February 06, 2009, 12:12:33 am »

Broken arrow, when we say "remove the scales" we're not actually removing the scales. Just the outer skin on top of the scale...the part that you can take your fingernail and scratch off very easily.
If this super thin layer is not removed...As your putting down the finish it will start to shed those little tiny scales and make a mess of things. Plus, the outer scales are always duller in color than the underlying "fresh" scales.
Trust us. You want to remove them before putting on a finish.. The skin will still have scales, but they'll be prettier.

Gordon · « **Reply #6 on:** February 06, 2009, 12:33:47 am »

The finish will crack if you do not remove the scales.

Pappy · « **Reply #7 on:** February 06, 2009, 06:18:46 am »

I just put them in warm water and rub them gently and most will come right off.Then after I glue the on and they dry, rub lightly from head to tale with a soft rag and the rest will fall off.Then seal.
After I put a coat of sealer and it dries I rub light from head to tail with 000 steel wool wipe clean and another coat of sealer and so on till it is slick.

Pappy

ricktrojanowski · « **Reply #8 on:** February 06, 2009, 06:32:48 am »

To remove the scales I scraped very gently in the direction of the scales with a scraper. SUPER LIGHTLY. Then the ones that didn't come off I picked off with my finger nail. I was too scared to to the tape thing.

Pappy · « **Reply #9 on:** February 06, 2009, 07:07:35 am »

I also meant to mention ,the duct tap will work but I've seen that tear the skin more than once.
Some skins are really thin and pretty fragile ,so if you go that rout be careful.Never tried it myself
but have seen some buddies do it. I figured they ant that hard to get off anyway so why take the chance.

Pappy

Justin Snyder · « **Reply #10 on:** February 06, 2009, 08:40:58 am »

Were aren't really removing the scales, just helping the snake shed its old skin one last time.

broken arrow · « **Reply #11 on:** February 06, 2009, 11:39:37 am »

thanks guys,

i'll post some pics, when i get to that point

TRACY · « **Reply #12 on:** February 06, 2009, 11:58:41 am »

Always use my thumb and a little pressure in the right direction after gluing skins and before applying tru oil. Just another option.

Tracy

gutpile · « **Reply #13 on:** February 06, 2009, 02:08:36 pm »

if you think they look good now wait till you get the scales off..like turning on the light bulb...gut

Primitive Archer