I have recently went off on a new tangent with snakeskin inlays. I am perfecting the seamless application, some almost invisible others well.... My problem is when I attempt to over wrap the inlay slightly for a neater edge and to also provide an under wrap for an adjoining guide I cannot make the transition. The thread piles up on the edge of the inlay and looks terrible. I am using Gudebrod A 2 strand nylon NCP as an under wrap. And Gudebrod D 3 strand nylon NCP as an over wrap.A few attempts were successful, more were not than were. I have tried to build it up with color preserver, with little success as it dries very thin. I have considered making a ramp with epoxy but I am a little rluctant since it is permanent with no turning back if there is a mistake.I hope someone has a better idea. Inlays are by far one of my favorite things to work with Abalone, feathers skin, even fabrics etc... This problem seems more prevalent with snakeskin. Thank You, Tom

I always put a thin coating of finish on the skin extending just beyond the edges (Pat Vinzant, the "skinmaster", squares off the edges by wrapping a band of masking tape on the blank just over the edges of the skin as a guide and cuts the skin square with a rasor blade and just wraps up to the skin)

Mike (Southgate, MI)
If I don't want to, I don't have to and nobody can make me (except my wife) cuz I'm RETIRED!!

I usually put a thin coat of finish on the skin and then wrap over the finish when it's dry.

Thin coat of finish and wrap uphill, always wrap uphill to prevent this or to make it easier.

Like Sam said wrapping uphill is easier, and also watch the thread tension, to tight and the thread will grip the finish and be hard to move and pack. permagloss works better on the ends, it is a lot harder. Finish can be put over when done,

Thank You everyone for your info, I used your suggestion to use a "little finish" worked like a charm...
Tom