The BEST way to Tan a Snake

[@kathieloza7647]

Thanks for the video, will be doing a patterned snake soon.

[@CarlWinter-oy8uf]

Nice to see a fellow professional tanning a snake skin correctly ----amateurs take note how its done!

[@donelda135]

Great job. Your videos gave me the confidence to tackle an elk and cow and now I feel I can do a snake. You cover all the steps in a quiet concise manner which allows me to process the steps with out distractions. Thank you!

[@TanningYourHide]

Donalda, we are thrilled you find our videos helpful. You are such an inspiration for all the first time tanners!

[@haleighwilson7777]

The tail wagging at 8:30 😂❤

[@RickeyMathis-o5b]

Great video Young man...

[@bradleyhendrix3475]

Have bought 2 kits now, wondering if you sell the tannig oil and powder alone.

[@TanningYourHide]

Yes! We have the Snake Tanning Agent and Snake Oil available in larger quantities on our website.

[@twistnshout3031]

Super cool. Only ever saw one rattle snake out here on the east coast. And it was a good 6ft long. Beautiful animal, never killed one never ate one. Would love to tan a couple nice like that

[@vicgonzalez3704]

Disculpa donde puedo comprar ese producto estoy en mexico gracias

[@daleweller5193]

Is there a way to keep the head on the skin for a wall mount?

[@marioamor5982]

What product is?

[@TanningYourHide]

We are using our Tan-a-Snake kit here. This includes the Snake Tanning Agent and Snake Oil (for softening).

[@randybeltrame2906]

Where do I buy these products particularly the snake tan and the snake oil and secondly I may have a problem. The snakes can I have is about a week old now and I had pinned to a piece of cardboard. I have two small pieces like 5“ x 5“ if that and they are hardened up, so is it too late to them and if so, what do you suggest? I just wanted to maybe store them inside of a frame, I should probably give you more background. I came home one night and was home over an hour before anything happened was already in bed with my wife and the kids start screaming there’s a snake in the house. I am a man of ACTION. I grabbed my shoes, grabbed a pair of sweatpants and a knife, and I killed the rattlesnake in my living room with a knife, it was a western Pacific sidewinder of some sort color that came up on the pictures I found

[@TanningYourHide]

Oh goodness, that is quite the scary story - with a snake inside the house! Yes, you can still tan air dried snakeskins. Start with the Rehydration/Salt Bath step and then follow the remaining directions. These products - Tan-a-Snake kit can be purchased on our website. Thank you!

[@artfx9]

Does Elon have a musk gland? 😂

[@billfoust6275]

Where you get the scraper??

[@TanningYourHide]

It comes with the Tan-a-Snake kit, or we have it separately on our website.

[@MichaelRhodes-r4s]

What is the name of the product you are using?

[@TanningYourHide]

Rick used products from the Tan-a-Snake kit. It has the Snake Tanning Agent (to tan) and the Snake Oil (to soften).

[@neekoolomanuelguevarra9015]

Hi sir.. where can i buy this product for preserving snake skin? Thanks

[@TanningYourHide]

The Tan-a-Snake Kit and larger size containers are available on our website.

[@iblackbeard]

Thanks a lot, very informative!_👍

Hey man, thanks for your professional and informative video. Recently one of my clients tipped me with a skin and a rattle that he acquired about a year before. I don’t believe there’s been any kind of treatment other than skinning and/or fleshing. It’s currently rolled up with rattle in a cellophane that he gave it to me in. Can I rehydrate it using this method and tan it with this product line, and expect a solid job, or should I expect it to come out sub par because it’s been sitting so long. Thanks so much.

[@TanningYourHide]

Yes, if the snakeskin is air dried, rehydrate it first in plain water just until it is relaxed. Then flesh (if needed) and go on to the salt bath and other steps.

[@jonathanbenson84]

I start cutting at the mouth and remove the skin from the mouth. I use a pair of curved hemostats and grab the fang so I have something to pull against while I cut. When I'm done it's a complete inside out hide with rattle intact

[@TanningYourHide]

Yes, that is a good technique to keep the full skin intact, while being careful of the fangs.

[@ford4life069]

So if you make a belt buckle or hat band, so you use leather finishes rather than household poly?

[@TanningYourHide]

You can use a leather finish, just test a small area on the skin first. The polyurethane is just a suggested finish for a flat skin that you may want to display.

[@ford4life069]

@AdvancedTanningSolutions thanks. My husband and nephew had to take one today they cldn't get away from and cldn't get her to leave where they had to work so it's coming home and I don't want to waste it. I thought I'd make my nephew something for Christmas from it.

[@markfuller5681]

Hey boss man can you tan a snake with its head still on, how would you do that??

[@moodysgaragegirl]

What is the "coarse" scrub you are using in this video? Thanks!

[@TanningYourHide]

It is fine steel wool. Make sure it has no soap.

[@CodyABest]

Do a fish skin

[@TanningYourHide]

We will add it to the list!

[@CodyABest]

Thank you!!!!

[@moodysgaragegirl]

What is the yellow coarse material you are using? The video says to use a coarse and a fine. I understand the fine steel wool..but what is the yellow coarse? We just got the snake tan kit and want to make sure we get the correct supplies. Thank you!

[@TanningYourHide]

The yellow pad is just a plastic kitchen dish/pot scrubber. Any material like this will work, just something that has some "coarseness" in order to "grab" the scales if that makes sense. You don't want it to contain any cleaning soaps or surfactants. Be sure to use it gently, so the color isn't rubbed off. Also, removing the scales is optional. I personally like them on, but if you are creating something from the leather, like a wallet or belt, you can remove them - as they will fall off anyway from use.

[@maryfrederickson2526]

Thank you so much!

[@TanningYourHide]

Glad you enjoyed it.

[@maxbapple6252]

I have a question, could I salt it?

[@TanningYourHide]

Yes, the skin can be salted after it is fleshed. Then still relax/rehydrate prior to tanning it.

[@maxbapple6252]

@@TanningYourHide thanks

[@LuisSanchez-bo3yr]

How can we contact you to request information about whether you sell the skins?

[@Kreemerz]

What about the rattle?

[@TanningYourHide]

The snakeskin can be tanned with or without the rattle.

[@BrandonShu]

How do you get all the tiny meat from end of tail next to rattle? Is a little ok?

[@comicbookchris3509]

I've sold hundreds of skins with glycerin/alcohol mix for over a decade. Folks make wallets, boots, bow wraps, etc. with my skins. I've never had anyone of my long term customers complain. I've had some say my skins are the best they've ever worked with. I've debated whether to try methods such as yours but I just say if it ain't broke don't fix it. There is something I do that I came across by accident that might have made my glycerin/alcohol method better than most which will remain in my brain.

[@TanningYourHide]

Comicbookchris - Yes, the glycerine method is a hard one to break. You can read the comparison of methods on our website. Thank you for sharing.

[@KevinDowning-d3s]

I followed the directions and the skin curled in and was a little crispy. What did I do wrong?

[@TanningYourHide]

It could be there wasn't enough oil on the skin and/or it dried too fast. You can rehydrate the skin in plain water just until it is relaxed (usually only 15-20 minutes), then drain until damp, lay out on plastic/saran wrap and re-oil. Start with the scale side up and depending on how think the skin is, let it soak in for 1-2 hours, then turn over and oil the flesh side (apply a little extra oil along the belly scale area). Let this soak in for 1-2 hours, then turn back over with scale side up and dry this way overnight. The next day, turn the skin over - still keeping it on the plastic and dry it flesh side up overnight. Try keeping the skin in a cooler area, so it dries slower. It is important to keep the skin on the plastic for the first 2 days so the oil isn't pulled out of the skin. Next day, remove the plastic and finish drying the skin on cardboard. You can call if you still have questions. Thank you.

[@dalekeys5963]

I hang the snake in the freezer so it freezes in a straight line. I then do the incision while it's frozen and then skin it when it thaws out. The incision line is arrow straight.

[@TanningYourHide]

That is a great tip!

[@BaowSchmeow]

We occasionally have snakes near our work (basically at our doorstep) so I kinda want to relieve them of their skins and tan them. But also reading all over the place some websites say it's illegal to hunt or kill snakes but also the one snake is a garter snake which they are the most common snake here in New Jersey and I almost stepped on it's head once which probably would have accidentally killed it. It's on our property and it's not endangered so I don't see a problem with taking one out (New Jersey is dumb for many reasons). I think the only endangered snakes here are 2 types of rattle snake which I have never seen. I am guessing the snake is eating the frogs in our old unused inground pool, which we also need to get rid of them at some point.

[@FloridaMeng]

Non-native species are usually okay to hunt.

[@jasonwile9827]

I followed the steps with my kit i purchased from you but im guessing i didn't put enough oil on the flesh side of the skin it turned out crispy could i just re oil the flesh side again?

[@TanningYourHide]

Yes, rehydrate it in plain water just until it is pliable (may only be 10-15 minutes). Pull out and drain, flesh some more if it needs it, then re-oil. Be sure to lay the skin on plastic while oiling (this way, the oil isn't pulled out) and start with the scale side up. After a few hours, turn it over and oil the flesh side (you won't need as much since it was already oiled). Let it sit on the plastic overnight, then remove it and dry it out flat - turning over every few hours. Thank you!

[@jasonwile9827]

@advancedtanningsolutions128 sounds good thank you sir!

[@senor12]

I've already started the glycerine alcohol method I'm going to take to completion because I already started. I bought your kit and it's on the way. I'll sure use it when I get another snake but can I use this method on the glycerine method skin once it's finished?

[@TanningYourHide]

If you soak the skin in water, it will remove (wash out) the glycerine and alcohol. Then you can proceed with the tanning steps. Thank you.

[@senor12]

@@TanningYourHide THANK YOU FOR YOUR REPLY! How long should I soak the skin in water? and/or do you mean "soak" or simply rinse? and then my second question is do I start your process from the very start or at some other point in the step? I APPRECIATE YOUR HELP!!!! I have a nice copper head snake skin soaking right now in the glycerine/alcohol mixture. This is my first time to do this..........

[@stinkilaki]

Do you have any experience tanning iguanas?

[@TanningYourHide]

We do! Rick has recently tanned an iguana, bearded dragon and monitor lizard. Call us and we would be happy to walk you through the process.

[@H11896]

Hey no hate I think you guys have a great selection of products but it is way cheaper to use salt or glycerin

[@TanningYourHide]

I am really glad you mentioned this as salt, glycerin, alcohol or a combination of the 3 have been a popular way of treating snake skins. However these items do not actually "tan" the skin and turn it into leather. The salt will pull moisture out and dry it. Alcohol/glycerin when mixed together: alcohol prevents the skin from decaying until it dries and it also thins the glycerin so it can absorb into the skin. The glycerin though, is a humectant, meaning it encapsulates the water molecules in the snakeskin and prevents them from evaporating. It keeps the skin pliable, but it is not a tan. Over time, the glycerin will evaporate and the skin will become dry and brittle and eventually rot.

[@krissypurvis7424]

Would you remove the scales if you were going to be making a belt out of the snake skin?

[@TanningYourHide]

Yes, if using the skin for making items, it is best to remove the scales as they will fall off anyway from use.

[@krissypurvis7424]

@@TanningYourHide thank you! this is my first time tanning a snakeskin and making a belt out of it.

[@John-wm6fg]

Best Use of a Credit Card I Have Ever Seen , as a Meat Scraper !!!

[@TanningYourHide]

Actually it is a pan scraper! This system also now has a larger fleshing tool for use on the constricting snakeskins.

[@John-wm6fg]

@@TanningYourHide Agreed Those Boa Constrictor’s Just Keep On Constricting !!!! By The Way I Believe You Have a Very Honorable Craftsmanship in your Taxidermy Trade !!!! Grosses out some People But To Know How to Cut up and Preserve Everything Possible as To Losing is Getting Very Rare In Today’s Walmart and Quick Restaurant Throw away World , Your a Well Trained Young Man and Shall Go Far in Life !!!

[@slimlarkins2806]

The best way is the most cost efficient way and when you live in south africa it's 17 Rand to the Dollar and there is no one who will pay 1022.44 Rand for a snake skin even if I get a king cobra no one will pay me what it cost to tan the skin, not to mention that I still make a loss as the R1022 does not include shipping or the R200 compensation for killing a snake

[@leggoego]

Now I see why it takes 9 months to get a mount back 😂

[@shawnb4027]

How do you handle the venom??

[@PreservationSolutions]

Shawn, good question. Dead venomous snakes still have venom in their fangs, so you want to avoid the head area and dispose of it properly.

[@coopsrvadventures4836]

Do you have a video on how to make the snake skins into a hat band?

[@TanningYourHide]

We have our flat tanning and tube snakeskin tanning only videos for now. However, give us a call and can give you some instruction on hat bands.

[@CarlWinter-oy8uf]

So for the poor man in Africa who cannot pop into a taxidermy shop and buy SNAKE TAN mixture all ready made ! What is the chemical composition of your snake tan mixture ?---there are so many --ie chrome sulphate --alum sulphate /Zirconium --? or is it a secret formula ? --

[@TanningYourHide]

Carl, send us an email with your shipping address, we can talk about how to get you product, [e-mail]

[@bulldawg6259]

Don't rip off Bob Hassler his is the best on the internet years ago

[@artfx9]

Calm down. We are just here to learn.

[@pepoxxx2]

👍💪