ruined snake skins

[WildWoodsGirl]

How do I preserve snakes skin? I've tried to find out how through the web and books but still can't seem to find out how. I have some snake skins that the local fishermen give to me that they've killed and tried doing them the same way as mammal hides but the scales start to peel off. I don't want the scales to come off and i've asked several people and serched many places but still can't find out how.:banghead:

 

[blinky420]

get all the meat off the skin first then mix half glycerin and half rubbing alcohol and put in on the raw side of the snake skin put it in a bag and repeat the process for 2 days after the 2 days put another coat on stretch the skin out and tac it to a piece of wood and let it dry after it dries it will be tan

 

[blinky420]

Im a taxidermist is how i know

 

[sansone]

we got all the pros here.. gotta luv-it

 

[mc223]

What kinda bag are ya using?

 

[blinky420]

just a zip lock bag or anything like that

 

[mija]

Tandy, I believe is where I have purchased a product called Rep-Tan. It works great, 20 years later and the skins,(timber rattler and copperhead) are still in great condition. About once a year I lightly treat them with a leather conditioner to slow/stop excessive drying and cracking. You will find that many snake skins are very thin and fragile. If I remember correctly there isn't any way to keep the scales on. They are scraped off early in the process. it does not effect the appearance of the skins.

 

[wy child]

On my snake skins Instead of alcohol and glycerin. I use antifreeze and linseed oil about 1/3 linseed oil to antifreeze.
I put the skin in a tight container with the mixture. let it soak for a week shaking up the container once a day.
So far all of my skins have remained soft, flexible and hold there color and shine.

De inimico non loquaris male, sed cogites

 

[788Ham]

...... and they don't freeze up in the winter?

 

[WildWoodsGirl]

well she skins dont get all dried out but my main problem is the scales, after i've done the tanned process the scales start to shed away and some of the soft color area's seems to tare away when I try removing the peeling scales.

 

[Jason977]

I've used the alcohol and glycerin solution mentioned above, and it works the best of anything I've tried. I've also heard of using antifreeze, but was afraid it may discolor the skin.

When it comes to the scales, I don't think there is any way to keep them on. They only add a little color to the skin anyway, so I generally scrape them off to begin with.

Another tip that I didn't learn until too late for several skins was to measure the length of the snake before you skin it, then when you're ready to nail it down, you'll know how long to make it. Problem is, otherwise you'll be tempted to stretch it out too much. The color is only on the pads underneath the scales, not so much on the skin itself. If you stretch it out too much it'll look funny.

 

[Sav .250]

I did a couple of rattler skins. got the "special" solution from my local
Taxi-derm-ist. Must be about 20 years old by now and still look good.