Eastern diamondback rattle snake: New PICS

Hey bell I love that you are going to tan the hide of that big thing but salt (looks like what you have on it) will not do a very good job of tanning a snake skin (will get very hard). Wash that salt off fast and get a qt mason jar and roll the hide up and put in jar. Add 2 parts antifreeze (like you put in the radiator of truck) and 1 part glycerin oil (you can find it at the drug store) to the jar with skin, put lid on and store in the fridge for two weeks. Then spread out on a board (don't nail down)and take a spoon a lightly rub the meat and scales off both sides of skin, then brush the solution from jar on both sides of skin (leave on board overnight to dry). Repeat this every day for 1 week. In three weeks you will have a nice skin that will be soft and pliable that you can make into a hat band or belt (maybe both as big as it is). I have done this recipe on several big rattlers and it turned out great.

Thanks duckiller............I had no idea how to do this........I will follow your advice!!!! And let you know how it turns out!!!!

I was just thinking about something. I have always used regular green colored antifreeze and when finish the skin has a very light faint green tint to it. They now make red antifreeze for newer vehicles and that might look cool for you being a women, I would think it might come out with a light reddish pink tint to it.. Maybe you could even add food coloring or dyes to the solution to get different color skin. I have never tried this but just a thought.

I'm on my way to get supplies!!!! Thanks for your advice!!!!!

The hide is being tanned. Now, it is very soft!!!!

Let us know how you like it in three weeks.

theduckiller said:

Let us know how you like it in three weeks.

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Sure will!!!

You may have preserved the skin, but you have not tanned it. You may need borax or something to keep bugs away. Perhaps the anti-freeze has something in it that repels bugs.

Most taxidermists use about a 1:1 mix of alcohol to glycerin or use a reptile tanning kit. It depends on what the end product will be.

walkintall said:

You may have preserved the skin, but you have not tanned it. You may need borax or something to keep bugs away. Perhaps the anti-freeze has something in it that repels bugs.

Most taxidermists use about a 1:1 mix of alcohol to glycerin or use a reptile tanning kit. It depends on what the end product will be.

Click to expand...

Thanks for the information! Still in the learning process