Finish for backed bow?

[Outbackbob48]

I need some ideas or pics of some options for rawhide backed osage bow. One of my favorite osage bows started to lift a ring (thin ringed) so I backed it with rawhide. I thought if I finish with clear that it will be to white, an I don,t really want to snakeskin it. Any ideas? Thanks in advance. Bob

[Pat B]

Depending on the rawhide and the finish the rawhide may turn translucent which will show the wood color underneath.
The bow below is rawhide backed and I used craft paint from wally world for the design. Then a few coats of Tru-Oil.

[Outbackbob48]

Pat I knew you would have some pics, sharp looking bow. I'm thinking of using some leather stain an maybe a sponge camo type pattern, or maybe just plain an hope for the transluscent look. There are a few of the transluscent spots now but mostly white.  Thanks Again Bob

[Ryano]

Bob, I have all kinds of diferant colors of leather dye. I can bring them to the club with me tomarrow if you want. 

[medicinewheel]

Actually, the TBB says translucent calf rawhide - considered to be best for backings in the old days - may have never existed, which is wrong. It's not even difficult to find, AND it's probably really the best you can use: translucent calf rawhide is being used for Timpany heads.

Pat, that's one nice bow there...!

[ricktrojanowski]

Bob
I thought I read in an old post about staining rawhide with coffee.  This might just be my imagination, but it sounds like a good idea.  I used Feibings leather dye on a rawhide backed kids bow that I made for my son.  I liked the way it looked, it still kind of looked opaque, but much darker.