Author Topic: So I have this Snakeskin..... (Read 475 times)

ABaker · « **on:** September 26, 2005, 02:54:17 PM »

I accidentally ran over a 3 foot Mojave Rattler here in Arizona the other day. I cut off it's head, and put it in a box. As soon as I got home I put it in the freezer. Good looking snake. It sat in the freezer about a week. I took it out of the freezer and let it thaw out. As soon at it thawed I cut it right up the belly and pulled it's skin off. So now I have this snakeskin..... Kind of bloody, and slimy. So what do I do now? I think I jumped into this too soon...... Anyone ever try this?

Bogmaster · « **Reply #1 on:** September 26, 2005, 03:45:22 PM »

Not I ,we have no snakes anything like that ,here in the north country.
Tom

.17HMR · « **Reply #2 on:** September 26, 2005, 03:46:11 PM »

I used to catch water snakes and skin them and what I always did was tack them up to a board and rub baby oil on them and let them dry in the sun and that seem to preserve the skins quite well. if your looking to sell the skin then go with a different method.

hope this helps

ABaker · « **Reply #3 on:** September 26, 2005, 04:13:15 PM »

I put a bunch of salt on the inside to dry it out, If it doesn't work I will throw it out...

NONYA · « **Reply #4 on:** September 26, 2005, 05:29:21 PM »

use a 50/50 salt and borax mix it will cure and dry the skin,make sure to remove all meat and fat all the way up to the rattles.

Wackyquacker · « **Reply #5 on:** September 27, 2005, 05:17:27 AM »

If you desire a pliable and reasonably durable skin, wash all that salt away, scrape off the major fat and tissue, role the skin LOOSELy and place it in a container (yogurt to cottage cheese tubs work well) and cover the skin with glycerol. I store mine in the fridge but this is not essential. After a few days to a week change the glycerol with fresh glycerol. In a few days more you can drain the skin, wipe it clean of excess glycerol and tack out or hang to dry.

Ranger Mike · « **Reply #6 on:** September 27, 2005, 03:40:44 PM »

Although it's been a while since I tanned snake skins, here is what I used to do (and it worked rather well). I would scrape all fat from the hide, and coat the skin good with borax (usually 20-mule team borax laundry detergent). After about a week I would remove the borax and start rubbing glycerin or baby oil into the skin. I would let it dry and repeat. As a side note, I found it best to use push pins to tack it to a board and cover it with cheese cloth for the first few days until the borax absorbed the fat I failed to remove. I also turned the skin every few days. Good luck!