Snake Hide Tanning: Alcohol-Glycerin Solution

Tanning a snake hide is a simple process with multiple methods, one of which involves using alcohol and glycerin. This method involves cleaning the skin, removing excess flesh, and cutting the skin along the belly scales. The rubbing alcohol and glycerin mixture is then painted onto the skin, maintaining its softness and pliability while preventing decay. The solution can be made with equal parts glycerin and alcohol, or a 50/50 mix of glycerin and 90% alcohol. The skin is then soaked in the solution for 2-3 days, stirred once a day, and then hung to dry. This process permanently alters the protein structure of the skin, producing a stable material that can be used for fashion accessories, home décor, or art projects.

Prepare the snakeskin

Firstly, you will need to clean the snakeskin. Use a soft cotton cloth with plain water, gently wiping in the direction of the scales. Avoid harsh chemicals or abrasive cleaners that can harm the skin.

Once the skin is clean, pat it dry with a cloth. Then, lay the skin flat on a clean surface, flesh-side up, and remove any remaining flesh from the skin. Use a sharp knife or scissors to carefully cut along the belly scales. This makes the skin easier to work with and ensures an even tan.

Next, pin or stretch the snakeskin. You can do this by tacking it to a board, or by using a zip-lock bag. If you're using a board, you can sprinkle a generous layer of salt (without iodine) over the whole skin. Leave it in a cool, dry place for a couple of days, then scrape off any dried pieces of flesh and salt.

Now your snakeskin is ready for the tanning solution.

Mix glycerin and alcohol

To tan a snake hide with alcohol and glycerin, you must first mix the two ingredients. The process of tanning snakeskin with alcohol and glycerin is a popular method for treating snakeskins. The alcohol prevents the skin from decaying and thins the glycerin, while the glycerin acts as a humectant, encapsulating the water molecules in the snakeskin and preventing them from evaporating. This keeps the skin soft and pliable.

To mix glycerin and alcohol, you will need to gather your materials: pure glycerin, rubbing alcohol, and a sealable container. The glycerin and alcohol should be mixed in equal parts. Make sure you have enough of this solution to fully submerge the snake skin. You can purchase these products at any drug store; they are much cheaper than alternative tanning methods, and you can reuse the solution for multiple snake skins.

Once you have your materials, mix the glycerin and alcohol in your sealable container. You can use a mason jar, which you can get from Walmart or Walgreens, for example. Stir the solution once a day for 2-3 days. It is important to ensure that the skin is fully submerged in the solution during this time.

After the skin has soaked in the solution for 2-3 days, remove it from the container and rinse it with water. Use a dull knife to scrape the flesh side of the skin, removing any loose membrane. This will give the flesh side a clean look.

Now, spread a light coat of pure glycerin on the flesh side of the skin and let it hang dry for 24 hours. Finally, use a damp cloth to wipe away any excess residue, and your snakeskin is ready!

Place the snakeskin in the solution

To tan a snake hide with alcohol and glycerin, you'll need to prepare a solution of equal parts alcohol and glycerin. This solution will serve to tan the skin, while also softening it. It's important to mix enough solution to fully submerge the snakeskin.

Before placing the snakeskin in the solution, it's crucial to clean and prepare the skin. Start by cutting the skin along the belly of the snake with sharp scissors or a knife, being careful not to rupture any innards. Then, free the uppermost end of the skin from the fleshy membrane and gently pull down to remove the skin from the body. Cut the skin loose from the tail, and scrape off any excess meat, sinew, and thin film of muscular tissue. This scraping step ensures that the tanning solution will be able to soak through effectively.

Now, you're ready to place the snakeskin in the solution:

Placing the Snakeskin in the Solution:

• Loosely roll or coil the snakeskin, ensuring it is scale-side in, and place it into your container with the solution. It is important to use a glass or plastic container and avoid any metallic objects during this process.
• Seal the container and store it in a cool, dark environment, away from direct sunlight.
• Let the snakeskin sit in the solution for 2-5 days. During this time, stir or shake the container once or twice a day to ensure even distribution of the solution.
• After the allotted time, remove the snakeskin from the solution and rinse it with water. It is recommended to wear gloves during this step.

Once the snakeskin has been removed from the solution and rinsed, it's time to move on to the drying and finishing stages of the tanning process.

Soak for 2-5 days

To tan a snake hide with alcohol and glycerin, you must first mix a solution of equal parts pure glycerin and rubbing alcohol in a sealable container. Make sure you have enough of this solution to fully submerge the snake skin. Next, loosely roll the snakeskin and put it into the solution. Seal the container. Now, let the snakeskin sit for 2-5 days, stirring the solution once a day to mix up the contents. Ensure that the skin is fully submerged throughout this process.

After this, you can remove the skin from the container and rinse it with water. Use a dull knife to scrape the flesh side and remove any loose membrane. This will give the flesh side a nice clean look when you are finished.

Now, you must spread a light coat of pure glycerin on the flesh side and let it hang dry for 24 hours. Finally, use a damp cloth to wipe any excess residue off the skin.

Remove the snakeskin and stretch it

To begin the process of tanning a snake skin with alcohol and glycerin, you must first obtain a snake skin. It is important to only process snakes that you have killed yourself or that you know for a fact have died recently by non-natural means. Do not use any salt water or battery acid solutions, as these methods will destroy the skin.

Once you have obtained the snake skin, you will need to clean it and remove any excess flesh. This can be done by laying the skin flat on a clean surface, flesh side up, and using a soft cotton cloth with plain water to gently wipe the skin in the direction of the scales. Avoid harsh chemicals or abrasive cleaners that can harm the delicate skin. Once the skin is clean, pat it dry and set it aside.

Now, you will need to mix your tanning solution. The solution is made by combining equal parts denatured alcohol and vegetable glycerin. It is important to use a glass jar with a lid to hold your solution and not to use any metallic objects. Stir the solution at least twice a day and store it in a cool, dark environment.

After your skin has been cleaned and your solution has been prepared, you can begin the stretching process. There are two common methods for stretching snake skin:

• Wrapping the skin tightly around a stick: This method puts no holes in the snake skin and provides enough stretch. Leave the skin to dry for about four days.
• Pinning the skin to a board: This method involves pinning the skin to a board and stretching it taut. This ensures that the skin dries evenly and maintains its shape.

Frequently asked questions