Snakeskins and anti-freeze

[rickt300]

I have heard of a snakeskin tanning method using antifreeze. Anyone know how it's done? How long to soak it? What to do after?

[halfbreed]

Rick, sorry for the late reply, i rarely ever get into this forum. I was told about using antifreeze for snakeskins also.
 I was told to flesh the hide well, then gently roll it up loosly, put into a gallon sized jar, pour fresh anti freeze in to cover entirely, leave the lid slightly loose for about a week. I did everything to a T.
 I rolled the jar everyday so there could not be any dry spots.
 The hide spoiled in the jar, I lost a very nice 5.5 foot copperhead skin, The next one I will use Alum powder.
 I guess what I am saying is test any home recipe on a scrap hide, instead of losing a real nice one like mine.
 John

[Casull]

A 5 1/2 foot copperhead has got to be some kind of a record.

[GeneRector]

  My wife cured a snakeskin once and used alcohol and glycerin mixed together. If memory serves, it was half alcohol and half glycerin mixed together and then paint each side of the skin 5 times, allowing for it to dry before another application. It turned out really nice. You might talk to a taxidermist about what to use and how to do it. Good Luck! Always, Gene

[torpedoman]

My wife cured a snakeskin once and used alcohol and glycerin mixed together. If memory serves, it was half alcohol and half glycerin mixed together and then paint each side of the skin 5 times, allowing for it to dry before another application. It turned out really nice. You might talk to a taxidermist about what to use and how to do it. Good Luck! Always, Gene

50-50 mix of glycerin and alcohol put skin in mason jar cover with mix put lid on shake it a bit ever day or when you think of it. about a week and you have a skin that is very supple and colorful and will last for years.

[halfbreed]

casuul. 5.5 feet is a nice skin indeed, around here I doubt it is a record by any means. There are several chemical factories in the area putting out some serious chemical spills every now and then.
 This area is THE cancer center for U.S. for a reason. I have pulled catfish from the river less than 1 mile from these chemical plants that had black oozing sores on them. I cut the line over a 5 gal bucket, turned the fish over to the fish and game dept. They were not happy.
 I could go on. I have respiratory problems for over 25 years because of chemical mist from  trucks here.
 The largest and most dangerous chemical landfill and processing station in the U.S. was closed down several years ago in this same area.
 Any more questions?
 John

[Casull]

Sorry to hear that halfbreed.  Aside from your toxic critters, I think about 4, maybe 4 1/2 feet is about as big as I've heard.

[bilmac]

I did a small skin once in half antiferrze and half turpintine. It turned out good .

[rickt300]

Well I put the skins in a jar of antifreeze months ago, sealed it and will open the jar today. Nothing special though, just a Texas Rat snake and a little rattlesnake.

[SingleShotShorty]

I have used a product called snake tan you can google it. It doesn't make them soft and supple but the are preserved for ever.

[tunnug]

I've done about a dz. skins with the alcohol/glycerin method always rubbing on the inside only and they all turned out real nice, had a friend tell me about soaking them covered in the mix for about a month and getting good results also.

[drdougrx]

So when I go to S.Tex in Fall, can I get a rattler and tan it???  Is it legal and worth the trouble??

[rickt300]

If you aren't on a WMA that has rules against it there is no reason you can't. Rattlers are not common everywhere in Texas but I know some places all you would have to do is cruise the roads at night and early in the morning and you would see far more than you wanted to.

[drdougrx]

Thanks Rick....I'll be at the Yturria Ranch in Raymondville.