How to Preserve a Snake Skin

Preserve a snake skin at home.

Some of the most luxurious goods in the world are manufactured from snake skin. The process of preserving, or tanning, the skin can add several hundred dollars onto the bill of a handmade snake skin purse, boots or wallet. Most any type of snake's skin can be preserved for later use in leather production or even as a way to keep the memory of a cherished pet alive after the snake has perished.

Things You'll Need

• Sharp knife
• Glycerin
• 2 cups rubbing alcohol
• Sealed plastic container
• Cool water
• Dull knife
• Paint brush
• Drying rack
• Cloth

Instructions

1. Remove the snake's skin by cutting the snake down the length of the belly from the head to the end of the tail with a sharp knife. Pull the skin away from the flesh with your hands.

2. Pour two cups of glycerin, which can be purchased at many pharmacies, and two cups of rubbing alcohol into a medium-sized plastic bowl that has a lid.

3. Place the snake skin into the bowl, making sure that the whole piece is completely submerged in the solution. Place the lid onto the container.

4. Allow the snake skin to sit in the sealed container for two days. Remove the lid of the container and stir the liquid once a day. Take this opportunity to check on the skin to ensure that it is still completely submerged.

5. Remove the snake skin from the container and rinse off the mixture with cool water.

6. Scrape off any excess flesh that may remain on the snake skin with a dull knife.

7. Place the snake skin onto a flat surface, flesh side up, and cover it with a thin coat of glycerin. Use a paint brush to ensure the skin is completely coated.

8. Hang the snake skin up on a drying rack or outdoors and allow it to remain for at least 24 hours.

9. Wipe both sides of the snake skin clean with a cloth that has been dampened in cool water.

References

• Tropical Leather: Processing the Snakeskin Leather
• The Tannery Inc.: How to Tan a Snakeskin