Snake Skin Report

[David Hornett]

Hi,

 

If you are wondering, you may remember some time ago I asked about the suitability of snake skin for bellows, well I have made a set for my latest 32 button effort, shall post a photo in photobucket shortly... A few observations:

 

Bellows look great in black with purple snake skin papers, and black snake skin leathers, and the glue, because the skins are keratin, really sticks both on the outer skin (scales) and on the undercast, I found the rabbit skin glue and Fiebings held more tightly than on the kangaroo skin I have been using.

 

BUT:

 

1, It is almost impossible to skive to a feather edge as the leather pulls away from the scales,

 

2, The scales mean the skin when bent over the bellows arches is not as supple, so no matter how much compression one puts on the bellows to get them to hold their shape (and I use a large book binding press) there is always some spring, they simply won't lay flat but bounce open by about 5/8 of an inch over a seven fold bellows: most annoying.

 

3, Takes 3 skins of Handrick's Sea Snake for one 7 fold bellows, well two and a half really, but what does one do with half a snake?

 

Shall post a photo as soon as I get the instrument tuned and back together again.

 

PS:

 

Just a warning, The Post Mistress has been delivering the little packets the Thais send the skins in, so last Thursday I trotted down and showed her the results of my efforts, a very, very, very bad idea, I am hopeful she just might allow me back in the shop tomorrow to collect my mail, if I smile nicely, but I am not counting on it.

 

 

David

[Bruce McCaskey]

Looking forward to seeing the results of your efforts.

 

I suspect you may never fully recover your relationship with the Post Mistress, likely she'll never again take a neutral stance regarding your incoming packages. I considered for a moment suggesting that you might tell her of the Chinese Erhu (with cobra skin an essential part of its construction) and its long use in Chinese traditional music, but likely telling her about other musical uses for snake skin won't improve her fondness for the topic or you for knowing about it.

[JimLucas]

The Post Mistress has been delivering the little packets the Thais send the skins in, so last Thursday I trotted down and showed her the results of my efforts, a very, very, very bad idea....

 

You did tell her the snakes weren't alive, yes?

[David Hornett]

I didn't get a chance, there comes a point when mere survival demands one throws all courage to the winds and beats a hasty retreat.