Rattlesnake Skin (Tanning Update)
- Thread starter misswired
- Start date
got a text......you wanna rattlesnake? YEP
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Dougaz
Member
As much as I hate to see snakes killed, rattle snake is delicious. We clean them up, dip in some standard egg and milk and deep fry em'.
Yum
Yum
Gunslinger808
Member
I usually skin them then put the wet side down on cardboard and spread it out.
It'll stick just fine and once it dries when you pull it off it leaves any fat and meat stuck to the cardboard for a clean skin.
It'll stick just fine and once it dries when you pull it off it leaves any fat and meat stuck to the cardboard for a clean skin.
Whatcha gonna do with it? Hatband?
Gunslinger808
Member
Yup, leave it till it's completely dry and it'll come up clean.
If it's a fresh skin it'll stick like glue to the cardboard.
doublesharp
Member
Anyone here remember Newfyman? He had a friend down in central Ky named Dave Holcomb that did leatherwork using tools from the 1800s. He made this holster with rattlesnake inlay.
Misswired, your posts are a treat. Never know what's coming next!
Misswired, your posts are a treat. Never know what's coming next!
vonn
US Veteran
Plenty of google help on preserving them and they last a long time.
Gunslinger808
Member
Well, I didn't need a hammer on mine, but whatever it takes!
If it stuck well, you're good, give it a few days to a week to completely dry then peel it off.
Then you can go ahead and soften it with whatever you like, I use just a small amount of Glycerin and alcohol, then for belts or hatbands wrap it around leather.
Some people like vinegar, water, and salt to "tan" theirs, look around on the Internet and you'll find a lot of opinions.
I go with what my grandad taught me.
Belly scales.
On or off while drying?
On or off while drying?
In the early 80s there was a 6 foot skin on the wall at the Ft. Benning Rifle and Pistol Club. Sign said Georgia Pygmy Rattler.
OLDSTER
Member
The hills just south and west of here are full of Rattlers. I know of a few folks here that make beautiful hat bands, belt buckles, belts, etc. But killing a Bull Snake is a no-no; very beneficial.
Well, I didn't need a hammer on mine, but whatever it takes!
Then you can go ahead and soften it with whatever you like, I use just a small amount of Glycerin and alcohol, then for belts or hatbands wrap it around leather.
Some people like vinegar, water, and salt to "tan" theirs, look around on the Internet and you'll find a lot of opinions.
I go with what my grandad taught me.
I'm seeing common vegetable glycerin on the net. Is this the glycerin used for snake tanning?
That snakes heart was still beating after loosing its head 30 minutes prior. Hence the hammer
armenius
US Veteran
I have cured a couple of rattler hides, and they came out very nice.
After removing flesh and fat I use pins to stretch and secure on a sheet of cardboard, with the FLESH SIDE UP! Then take 20 Mule Team Borax Powder and generously coat the flesh side. It will dry up over a few days, then brush off Borax and remove. Comes out beautifully.
After removing flesh and fat I use pins to stretch and secure on a sheet of cardboard, with the FLESH SIDE UP! Then take 20 Mule Team Borax Powder and generously coat the flesh side. It will dry up over a few days, then brush off Borax and remove. Comes out beautifully.
Gunslinger808
Member
I'm seeing common vegetable glycerin on the net. Is this the glycerin used for snake tanning?
That snakes heart was still beating after loosing its head 30 minutes prior. Hence the hammer
Yes, vegetable Glycerin will work just fine.
carpriver
US Veteran
snakes, I do not Like, I will walk 5 miles out of my way to avoid a snake, I don't care what kind is. And I sure as heck ain't going to wear a snake belt. My luck the dead snake's brother would see me and bite me to get revenge.
doublesharp
Member
Back in my baseball/softball days the preferred method of breaking in stiff gloves was use cheap shaving cream such as Barbasol because of the lanolin. Lanolin and glycerin are similar.
They way I'd break in a new glove was soak it in a tub of water for a few hours, then work the wet leather with my fingers. Put a ball in the pocket and tie it up good. Let it dry completely and then lather in the shaving cream. Leather will soak up a couple or three coats. Do this and a brand new glove will play like one you've used for years.
They way I'd break in a new glove was soak it in a tub of water for a few hours, then work the wet leather with my fingers. Put a ball in the pocket and tie it up good. Let it dry completely and then lather in the shaving cream. Leather will soak up a couple or three coats. Do this and a brand new glove will play like one you've used for years.
Today my daughter's came screaming in the house. I jumped up to see what was the problem. My 12 year old is shaking and said a snake jumped at her leg a just missed, as she was walking in the house. I go and grab a shovel to inspect and sure enough there is a rattler coiled up in my entryway. Needless to say there is one less rattler in Arizona....
BearBio
Member
My taxidermist recommended anti-freeze to soften the skin==keeps it supple and preserves it.
DoubleAdobe
Member
Same here, I let the rolled up hide soak in jar of antifreeze for as long as you want, the guy that told me about it years ago, says it kinda pickles the hide and the scales won't come off.
vigil617
US Veteran
"I walked forty-seven miles of barbed wire
I use a cobra snake for a necktie
I got a brand new house out on the road side
Made outta rattlesnake hide"
I use a cobra snake for a necktie
I got a brand new house out on the road side
Made outta rattlesnake hide"
Gunslinger808
Member
Anti freeze has propylene Glycol, which is basically a synthetic version of Glycerin.
Many years ago while dove hunting with some friends near Albuquerque, we encountered a fairly large rattler. I shot him in the head twice at close range with 12-gauge #9 shot, and it took him forever to leave this world - he wriggled for quite some time.
At any rate, I took him home, skinned him - he measured about 6 feet long - then laid the skin out on a flattened cardboard packing box, flesh side out, pinning the skin on the cardboard with sewing pins along the sides. I then got a carton of table salt and scattered it liberally on the skin. After a few days, it was dry. I sold it to a friend who said he wanted to make hatbands -
I never thought about eating him - does it taste like chicken??
John
At any rate, I took him home, skinned him - he measured about 6 feet long - then laid the skin out on a flattened cardboard packing box, flesh side out, pinning the skin on the cardboard with sewing pins along the sides. I then got a carton of table salt and scattered it liberally on the skin. After a few days, it was dry. I sold it to a friend who said he wanted to make hatbands -
I never thought about eating him - does it taste like chicken??
John
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Gunslinger808
Member
A cross between chicken and fish, pretty good when dipped, breaded, and fried.
