I am practicing applying snake skin for a butt wrap and need a little help. I ve put the snake skin on the rod using color perserver to glue it on. Now, do I need to apply color perserver to the surface of the snake skin before applying the finish? Also, do you have any suggestiions on finishing off the ends of the snake skin with thread wrap? Ive looked for photos of completed rods with snake skin butt wraps, but i haven't had a lot of luck. Any pictures out there?

Julian, you definitely need to apply CP to the Snakeskin prior tp your Epoxy finish. i use two coats and make certain the skin is completely covered. Any small areas not covered by CP will allow the Epoxy finish to turn the Snakeskin transparent. hope this is of some help...Cheers!!...Wayne

A resounding yes on using CP over the skin. I use 2-3 coats and let them dry completely before I apply my finish.
I typically like to wrap the ends with whatever color I'm wrapping my guides with, it adds a little continuity to the whole project. But earth tones always look nice for natural skin colors.

I use three coats of CP on top of the skins.

A long while back I saw a picture of a skin wrap that had theends in Burgundy with Gold trim bands. It was beautiful! I have not been able to duplicate it. You may find it in the photos, however I think it may have been in Rod Maker Magazine.

Bill

Ohio Rod Builders

Canton, Ohio

I use three coats of CP on top of the skins.

A long while back I saw a picture of a skin wrap that had theends in Burgundy with Gold trim bands. It was beautiful! I have not been able to duplicate it. You may find it in the photos, however I think it may have been in Rod Maker Magazine.

Bill

Ohio Rod Builders

Canton, Ohio

Julian

Yes to the CP on top before the finish! At least a couple of good coats. When trimming the seam on the bottom of the skin wrap, I also trimmed each end of the skin by slowly turning the rod and rolling a sharp razor blade (very lightly-don't score the blank) around the ends of the skin. This left a nice straight edge to start a thread wrap. I have a pic of mine (my first) in the photo section in the misc. category. Search with my name to find it. The pic isn't very sharp but it shows what i came out with. My final result was way better than what I was expecting.

(had to buy a few more skins at the expo this year!!)

Good luck

Rog

I also apply 3 coats of CP. If epoxy contaminates the skin, it will turn an ugly dark color (ask me how I know).

jeremy