How to Tan a Snakeskin
Snake skin has been a popular craft material with leather craftsmen and hobbyists for many years. Virtually any snake species lends itself well to decorative creations, including belts, boots, hat bands and wallets. Some species, because of their remarkable skin patterns, offer a more aesthetic appeal, including varieties of rattlesnakes, cobras, anacondas and pythons. Tanning a snake skin brings out the natural colors and patterns, which adds to the luster of the naturally oily skin. Anyone can tan a snake skin, using some special chemicals and easy-to-follow steps.
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Things You'll Need
- Serrated kitchen knife
- Paper towels
- Glycerin
- Rubbing alcohol
- Salt
- Plastic container (with lid)
- Butter knife
- Hooks or nails
- Paint brush
- Wire brush
- Tanning solution (optional)
Instructions
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Use scissors to cut from the anal opening of the snake up to just behind the head. Cut the head off. Strip the skin from the snake, starting at the tail, by pull the skin back and shaving with the knife. Hold the body of the snake while you pull backward toward the head. Lay the scale side down and scrape all fleshy tissue and fat off the inner skin. Rinse with plain water and wipe the hide off with clean paper towels.
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Pour equal parts of glycerin and rubbing alcohol in to a large plastic container. You may need up to two gallons for a large skin; you should have enough to completely submerge the snake skin under the solution. You can add a teaspoon of salt to help with the skin softening process. Coil the snake skin up into a loose ball and lay in in the solution. Screw an air-tight lid on the container. Let the snake skin sit for two or three days. Stir the solution once a day and make sure the skin remains constantly submerged.
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Remove the skin from the container and rinse thoroughly with water. Use a flat edged butter knife to remove any remaining fat and membrane from the fleshy side. Pat it dry with clean towels. Use a paint brush to cover the skin with a pure coat of glycerin on both sides. Let the skin hang from a nail or hook for 24 hours. If you wish to remove the scales after drying, crumple the skin up in your hands, squeezing hard. Most of the scales should flake off.
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Use a copper wire brush to remove any stubborn scales. Rinse with water and let dry. Apply another coat of pure glycerin to both sides of the skin and let hang for another 24 hours. After drying, use a professional tanning solution, if you wish for a deeper color texture, by applying it with a rag and letting it dry.
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Tips & Warnings
You can purchase a professional snake skin tanning kit from a crafts store instead of mixing a homemade solution.
References
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images
