Glycerin+Alcohol=SnakeskinCuringSolution??

[Ark]

Has anyone tried using a mixture of glycerin and denatured alcohol to cure or tan a snake skin?
I'd like to know if it really works and how you do it.
Thanks!
Rachel

[Gary in AL]

Rachel,
What we use uses glycerin, water and salt. This is how it goes:
Remove all the fatty tissue off the skin (without scraping it hard)
3 days in a heavy salt solution
Rinse throughly
3 days in a heavy glycerin solution
Rinse thoughly
then place the skin between two pine boards with it stretched out and not overlapping with something heavy placed on top of the board for 3-4 days
After that you just lay it out to dry (not in direct sun).
We have used this several times and the skin stays pliable.
Good Luck
Gary

[Ark]

Thanks Gary,

So, salt it heavily, and leave it WHERE for 3 days? In the fridge? freezer? A bag?

Then, when you put it in the glycerin for 3 days, do you put it in a bowl and just pour the glycerin over it?

You dont use any alcohol?

Thanks so much!

Rachel

[Gary in AL]

Rachel,
You mix the salt in water. We used a half-gallon jug of water and a box of salt. Then after 3 days in that solution, rinse it completely. Then add about 10-12 ounces of glycerin (you can add more if you want to) to a half-gallon of clean water, then rinse and put between the pine boards. Don't ask why pine but the directions were specific to use pine. For the amount I stated above we were doing a five and a half foot rattler. If your doing a rattler we were able to leave the rattles on. We've done a couple other 5 - 6' rattlers, a 5' cotton mouth and a 2-2-1/2' copperhead using the above. They stay pliable enough to make hat bands and belts out of them. Good Luck.
Gary

[MTNwomanAR]

I just clean the skin out as usual...then put a solution of denatured alcohol/glycerin on the skin on BOTH sides, for 7 days, put the skin in between two boards....it works.... I haven't tried the salt....maybe next time??

[SouthernThunder]

I have not tried that particular mixture but I have tanned a few rattlers with straight anti-freeze. Always works for me... just takes a while to dry out.

I don't use any salt at all as it tends to bleach the color out of the skin. I use 1 part glycerin to 1 part alcohol to 1 part water. Usually I use the little 4 oz. bottle of glycerin for 1 snake skin. I mix the solution up in a quart jar and place my skin in it and shake it up every morning and evening for 3 days. Then I take the skin out, tack it on a board and let dry. As it dries I rub off any loose scales. After drying it can then be used for hatbands etc.