Snakeskin hat bands?

[nebo]

Anyone ever made a hat band out of a tanned snakeskin? If so how did you attach the hide to the backing?

[rambotex]

interesting question

[Big Dave]

Glued it on.

[ET1 SS]

I made one once from a rattlesnake. I laced the hide to the sides of the hat. No 'backing'.

[spur]

Last one I did I took a piece of thin leather and put contact cement on the leather and the under side of the skin. Let both pieces dry to the touch and put them together. Make sure you are careful putting the two pieces together cause once you put them in contact with each other they won't come apart.Holds well.

[nebo]

Here is what I got so far. I did use a leather/fabric glue but not sure that it did very well. I made a wire pin to hold it in the back. I not sure what I want it to look like yet. Any suggestions would be welcomed.

[SueMc]

Never put one on a hat but laid the fresh skin on the cantle of a saddle and it just stuck on...for years.

[Rustaholic]

Originally Posted by nebo

Here is what I got so far. I did use a leather/fabric glue but not sure that it did very well. I made a wire pin to hold it in the back. I not sure what I want it to look like yet. Any suggestions would be welcomed.

That is a lot wider than the Western diamond back hide I tanned and covered a belt with. I wore the belt for several years then gave the hide to my brother and he glued it around a coyboy hat that he had. I do not like that white hat but if I had another hide like that I sure would love to use it on the new straw hat I just bought. When I put it on the belt I wrapped it around the edges and sewed it on. It was from a western Diamondback that had given it's life trying to kill my step-father. It was just a little longer than diagonally across a 48 X 48 inch piece of plywood.

[Chief Cook]

When I made things from rattlesnakes that I tanned for my FIL, I used Leather Weld to attach it to different leather blanks. I even trimmed out a check book cover that I used everyday and carried it in my purse, for years. It amazed me that snake skin is so thin, but so tough! Good luck with your project.