Snake Skin tanning

[AA3JW]

Don't really know if this is the right place to ask this, but I will any way.  A buddy of mine just had his dog get bit by a rattlesnake, almost $1900.00 later the dog is ok. The snake was back in his yard, and actually tried to attack him, so he shot it. He knew I was into leather work and asked me if I wanted the snake. I said yeah. He brought it over, and after cutting the head off, it measures 5 ft from the front to the rattles. Currently it is in my freezer (not making my wife too happy). What is the best way to treat the skin after I get it skinned, and scrape the flesh?

 

[ID45]

I tack it out on a piece of plywood trying not to over stretch it then scrape off any flesh.I always hang it rattles up to keep any liquid from draining into them.Then mix rubbing alcohol and glycerine 50/50, paint it once a day for a week, sounds too simple but have used it many times

[koreric75]

funny, same scenario here....buddy was out squirrel hunting and came across one and nearly stepped on it...

it's skinned and stretched, wasn't sure what to tell him to do besides that...never did find out if he got any squirrel...lol.  He's hoping i can use it for some inlay on a belt and wallet for his boy for Christmas.

[Chief Filipino]

I used this technique with some python skins and it came out pretty well. I used vegetable glycerin and denature alcohol. The only issue I had was the scale covers popping off over time. I haven't used them on a project yet so no customers were harmed, but they are tanned.

 

[battlemunky]

Great video Chief, thanks for posting it. Simple. I never knew it was that easy. I had a few snake skins that were basically turned into snake rawhide through the years. If I'd have only known...

[Chief Filipino]

14 hours ago, battlemunky said:

Great video Chief, thanks for posting it. Simple. I never knew it was that easy. I had a few snake skins that were basically turned into snake rawhide through the years. If I'd have only known...

You're welcome. Ya it is fairly simple. with python there was A LOT of meat that was stuck on and extremely difficult to get off, I think because it is a constrictor and their muscles are different than vipers (?). I have not taken on a rattlesnake yet so I don't know what the de-meating process is like. The only issue I had was the scale shield thingy sloughing off over time. I've heard some people say to use resolene on it after it's dry but I didn't do that, maybe I should on the next one. 

[AA3JW]

Thanks for the replies. Looked at some of the utube videos, looks easy enough.  I got it skinned and in the liquid today. Hope it comes out good. Fleshing it was a pain in the butt! Here's what it looked like before going into the liquid. it was the full snake originally.

 

[Chief Filipino]

4 hours ago, AA3JW said:

Thanks for the replies. Looked at some of the utube videos, looks easy enough.  I got it skinned and in the liquid today. Hope it comes out good. Fleshing it was a pain in the butt! Here's what it looked like before going into the liquid. it was the full snake originally.

Wow that's beautiful! Was there a lot of meat left on the skin after getting it off? Did you cut it while still on the snake or peel it off? Just curious if it is a common thing with all snakes. There was a ton of flesh left on the python skins I did. 

[AA3JW]

I cut all the way down the stomach with a pair of EMT shears, then just peeled it off. There was not a lot of meat, but there was a really heavy thick membrane all the way down the skin. I used a combination of a skinning knife, and a brass brush while keeping a weak flow of water running down it. Still didn't want to come off.

 

[Chief Filipino]

16 hours ago, AA3JW said:

I cut all the way down the stomach with a pair of EMT shears, then just peeled it off. There was not a lot of meat, but there was a really heavy thick membrane all the way down the skin. I used a combination of a skinning knife, and a brass brush while keeping a weak flow of water running down it. Still didn't want to come off.

 

Did you stretch yours? I just thought that maybe it would help both of us. I didn't stretch mine but from the videos I've watched of skinning mammals they stretch it... maybe I'll try that on my next one.