tanning snake skins

[Supercracker]

Hey guys, it's getting time to start running into moccasins all the time at my place and I want one of those skins for a couple of projects.

I searched around and found a bunch of different methods of tanning a snake hide. Enough that I don't trust any of them.

What does the most learned faculty of ML forums recommend?

 

[PrimitiveHunter]

Well, I'm anything but learned but I used to hunt with a taxidermist. He had a solution in a little bottle that you brushed on the flesh side of the skin, rolled it up for 3 days, and unrolled it. I just worked it a little to loosen them up. I was hunting in rattlesnake country so I sewed a pair of leather snake leggings and sewed the snake skins over that.

 

[smo]

I tried the same search a couple of weeks back and found the same results.So i ordered some Rep-Tan from Tandy Leather. The skins of these two are in the last stage of the process as we speak.

I'll post pics when there complete. And no I don't hate snakes.( but my favorite ones are dead ones :wink: ) I'm just looking out for the Grandkids Two & Five years of age. :thumbsup:

 

[BillinOregon]

Good thread, as the buzztails are active here, too. I have always admired the patterns and the skins make spectacular backings for selfbows. Some folks just stretch them on a board with tacks, then brush with glycerin, but I am sure there are better ways, such as using the Tandy solution. Look forward to reading and hearing more here.

 

[smo]

Plans are for one on a board & one for a hat band :hatsoff: :grin:

 

[Bubba45]

Ive used this on several and works well ! Got the recipe originally from a old snake hunter here in Or. http://www.thetanneryinc.com/snakeskin.html

 

[Supercracker]

Ive used this on several and works well ! Got the recipe originally from a old snake hunter here in Or. http://www.thetanneryinc.com/snakeskin.html[/quote]

yeah. I saw that and it looked good. Now, where do I get glycerin? Without ordering it mean?

 

[paulvallandigham]

Some large drug stores sell glycerin "soap", for people with certain skin conditions. Ask your pharmacist about it.

 

[Bubba45]

Walmart and Fred Meyers has it in pharmacy area not to far from rubbing alcohol.

 

[fatboy]

Ive seen it in the pharmacy too

 

[JEB/Ms]

You might ask at your local glass company. When I had a glass shop the maker of my glass handling suction cups recommended using glycerin on them to keep the rubber pliable. It came in a quart plastic bottle and was about $7 or $8. (that was about 20 years ago though)
JEB/Ms

 

[MSW]

i got a small bottle some years ago from the drugstore. used it for softening/sealing/seasoning the bag to my bagpipes. pipe bags are made of elkhide (unless you blow the synthetics, which don't have the same feel).

i remember seeing it in the local Walgreen's, i think.

good luck with your projects!

 

[Supercracker]

Of course, the real benefit to this thread is that, now that I know what to do with the hide, it might be years before I see another snake around here.

 

[YoungGunner]

Got a snake a while back and after skinning it I stretched it on a board and salted it for about four days then brushed all the salt off with a rough rag, and then applied bear grease (boiled bear fat) to the skin and set that out in the sun for a few days to loosen it up a bit. Made the Hatband turn out real well Link

 

[R.M.]

Well done there Gunner. I like that.

 

[smo]

Here are the two skins after they cured out using Tandys solution. I still plan to make the shorter one into a hatband.The other one will remain on the 4 footlong 8" wide board and hang above the door.I am going to apply a coat of clear shellac thinned 50% with denatured alcohol to the one that's remaining on the board. Tandys Rep-Tan solution recommends this to bring back the color. :idunno:

 

[John Wasmuth]

:thumbsup: