Using SnakeTan®

SNAKE TANNING DIRECTIONS:

1. Insert knife at center of lower jaw and cut to base of rattles.

2. Skin (or cut off) head and peel skin off carcass using scalpel where necessary.

3. Use side of Tablespoon to scrape away all remaining meat and membrane from skin.

4. Wash skin in cold water and let drain or pat dry with towels. Do not stretch or nail skins used for mounting. Skip to # 7.

5. Layout immediately. Place skin scale side down, stretch lengthwise and staple or nail ends as in diagram #5.

6. Tack, nail or pin skin alternating sides every 5”. Nail or staple 1/8” in from edge and every ½” along sides. NEVER EXPOSE TO HEAT OR SUN. If Snaketan® is applied before skin is dry, you will end up with a more supple product and use less Snaketan®.

7. Apply a very light coat of Snaketan® with ½” paint brush. Each application must be completely absorbed before applying the next coat. DO NOT APPLY MORE THAN 2 COATS IN 18 HOURS.

8. Using Make 3 to 8 applications depending on the thickness of the skin. Use sparingly. Skin is finished when it feels supple and will not totally absorb all Snaketan® in 24 hours. Snakeskins over 6 feet will take additional applications (FOR SKINS USED FOR MOUNTING, SKIP #9).

9. Trim skin along nails or staples with sharp knife. Snakeskins over 6 feet may be worked back and forth over the edge of a dull axe to make them more pliable.

10. Wipe both sides of skin with rag dampened with denatured alcohol. Set aside for about ten days before proceeding.

11. OPTIONAL: Remove loose scales by lightly scraping in head-to-tail direction with spoon. (the condition of the snake skin and the time of year it was killed determine whether or not the sheath on the scales will separate or flake off).

FOR SALTED OR BORAXED SNAKE SKINS

1. Brush thoroughly with soft wire brush.

2. Apply a light coat of Snaketan®, Let stand 12 to 24 hours.

3. Use side of Tablespoon to scrape away all remaining meat and membrane from skin. Repeat #2 and # 3 and then proceed to SNAKE TANNING DIRECTIONS #6.

RECONDITIONING REPTILE BOOTS, SHOES, PURSES, ETC.

1. Apply a very light coat of Snaketan® with ½” brush. If Snaketan® is completely absorbed. Apply a second coat.

2. If necessary, wipe off excess with soft cloth working in direction of scales.

3. Repeat reconditioning process as needed to keep scales & surface supple.

SNAKE SKIN HATBANDS (Follow Snake Tanning Directions 1-11)

1. Buy belt stiffening (band) from a fabric store or leather between 2-3 oz in thickness and cut band no wider than 1-1/4” (Pig skin is our recommendation). SNAKE SKIN MUST BE AT LEAST ¾” WIDER THAN BAND.

2. Measure circumference of hat at the position-finished band will be placed. Cut band to exact size.

3. Cut off snakehead. Measure snake from cut end and cut to match band. Save tail end.

4. Band for tail end must be cut to fit the contour of the skin. If rattles are not present leave enough skin for the overlap.

5. Rough the slick side of the band if there is one, with sandpaper or file.

6. Apply leather contact cement to band and underside of snakeskin. Let stand until tacky.

7. Place band end at the center of the cut end of the snakeskin and roll band onto skin.

8. Cover with waxed paper and apply pressure with rolling pin. Reverse skin and repeat.

9. Straighten and trim edges of snakeskin leaving enough to overlap on back.

10. Turn to back side and apply leather contact cement to one edge of skin and band. Let stand until tacky.

11. Take edge of skin and roll over edge of band and press. Apply pressure with rolling pin. Repeat steps 9 and 10 with remaining edge.

12. Staple band together end to end with three or four staples. DO NOT OVERLAP.

13. Measure from top back edge of band down over staples around and up to top edge of front.

14. Measure down tail from base of rattles and cut to fit band. Follow steps 4 through 10.

15. Apply leather cement over staples on back of finished hat band and tail section. Let stand until tacky.

16. Place cut end of tail section even with back top edge of band and apply pressure. Staple twice.

17. Apply leather cement to front band over staples. Let stand until tacky.

18. Bring remaining tail section up over front so rattles stick up and are free to move. BOTTOM OF RATTLES SHOULD BE EVEN WITH TOP FRONT EDGE OF BAND. Cover with waxed paper and apply pressure. Place in handclamp, being careful not to damage rattles. Leave in clamp for a couple of hours.

SNAKE SKIN BELTS (Follow snake tanning directions 1-11)

1. Buy buckle, tip cover, and belt blank no wider than 2” and a strip of light leather for lining from a leather or craft store (Women may prefer belt stiffening and buckle from a fabric store). SNAKE SKIN MUST BE AT LEAST ¾” WIDER THAN BELT BLANK.

2. Cut belt blank to desired length. Allow extra inches for overlap and attaching buckles.

3. Cut off snakehead. Measure from cut end, add 2” and cut.

4. Follow steps 4 and 5 under snakeskin hatband directions.

5. Place end of belt blank 1” in from end of snakeskin and roll belt blank onto snakeskin.

6. Follow steps 7 through 10 under snakeskin hatband directions.

7. Finish ends as desired or trim off excess snakeskin even with end of belt blank.

8. Cut leather lining ¼” narrower than belt and apply with leather cement.

9. Attach buckle and belt tip.

SNAKETAN® BULK TANNING

1. Follow steps 1-2 in tanning directions.

2. Flesh skins carefully using a tablespoon, reptile-fleshing machine or work over an abrasive wheels to breakdown the skin for maximum flexibility and to obtain top quality of your final product. (Do any possible fleshing prior to applying Snaketan®.) Wash skins in cool water, let drain and pat dry with towel. Shelf life is over 20 years with no separation of chemicals.

Noye: Van Dyke's Taxidermy Supply Co. offers these instructions in an advisory capacity and assumes no liability. Such information is the same as used in our own successful experiments, and since we have no control over the environment or the materials upon which our products or instructions will be used, no success is guaranteed. Trial must be performed to account for individual circumstances. In all suggestions, we recommend reading the formulas that have been provided for your evaluation. These are proven formulas that you may find beneficial, from the experience of other tanners.

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