Tanning a Rattlesnake Skin

The tanning process for a snake is different than for a mammal. With a few easy to find chemicals you can make a tanning solution at home and preserve a snake skin.

[alzcarlos]

I followed your instructions, with a Masticophis roadkill. 96º ethanol with 20-30% of glycerin. 3 days soaking.
Rolled over paper towels 2 days, changed with fresh towels and other 2 days.
My first ever snake skin. Thank you for sharing.

[noahhelton]

Thank you Jamie, for helping me preserve my 5’5” rattlesnake

[bravobase]

I've just skinned, fleshed and cured 2 puff adders over here in Africa and they are just too beautiful.. love the videos

[Carolinaishome]

I know this is an old video, but it helped a lot. My 4 1/2 ft Timber rattler turned out great. Thanks.

[glauberferreira]

Thanks a lot for this tutorial. Here in Brazil is really hard to find any information about tan a rattlesnake leather.

[rehoboth_farm]

Just had a snake get into my brooder and kill 5 guinea keets. It got in through 1" chicken wire but somehow couldn't get back out after dinner. He didn't make it. I love my machete. After I laid him open to take account of the damage I looked at the skin. Then I peeled him like a banana. More out of frustration and anger at first but I'm seriously considering tanning his ass. I have to get something other than coyote bait out of this. Thanks for the video.

[WildAboutBeingOutdoors]

Great job . I always wanted to know how to do this. Thanks for sharing

[Stump]

I have used half anti-freeze and half glycerin for years. Works good. save and use until you need to add more.

[rickweiss]

This video is very educational and entertaining. I learned a lot from it!!!

[Surefootsurvival]

Awesome video. Thanks a lot now Im on a mission to find a rattle snake.

[locknloadvideo]

Thanks for the snake advice. You should try burning methanol in your stove instead of isopropyl it burns cleaner. The yellow bottle of gas line antifreeze like HEET at the gas station is methanol.

[KBK]

Great video!! Very educational. Thanks for the upload.

[rogerfreeman]

I greatly appreciate the information, but 2x speed wasn't enough. Just a bit of friendly criticism there. Thanks for your help.

[robbyfiveboy]

First time. I am in the Philippines and am about to roll a 9ft Python on a stick. Question: after it dries (could be awhile!) How do I get the glycerine dried)removed enough to be able to glue it to leather to make something? Great vid btw!

[johnboy]

I live in West Texas and we have plenty of Diamond Back around. I have one or two every year. I killed a 42" rattler in the spring by the back door and just the other day(Nov.9, 2019) I had a 52" rattler get into my garage he was about to climb onto the steps leading into the house. Both snakes had to go, can't have them that close to the house. I took care of him and that's the reason I am watching your video. The big one will be processed using you method and the earlier one is dried.out so I after to reading other comments I think its too late for the other. Do you think it would damage the dry hide if I put it in the Glycerin solution? Thank you for all that you do, keep up the good work.

[linklesstennessee]

Good video good information they are good to eat also Jamie I got a question about trapping I bought some urine this year that’s not winterized I’m going to add propylene glycol how much would you add per quart of urine?

[markwarren]

That's going to be a nice hide for yrs to come. I tanned a timber rattler about 8 yrs ago with this same solution. It's still just as rubbery today as it was when I first tanned it

[markfcoble]

Thanks! Just killed one by the house. About that size too, 8 years old or so. Have to go to town to get those chemicals....

[firebirdclonefirebird]

Walmart didn't have glycerin.
They DID have hand sanitizer which is 70%alcohol and glycerin. So I mixed the sanitizer about 50 - 50 with 90% alcohol, and I'm going to pickle the three foot skin for a couple weeks. I'll try to come back and tell how it goes.

[oscartravis]

That was a really interesting process. Can other reptiles be tanned in the same way?