I have mounted 3 rattle snakes since I've been doing taxidermy, and have used boric acid mixed in water,
and have used rittle's snake tan which works great! Do you think I should use the oil when I mount a snake with rittle's tan, or leave it off? Does the glue adhear to it with oil on it.
Also I need to know what to put on the scales after the mount is dry to seal it? I'd heard once, a product called "neat lack" would seal and protect the skin, but can't find it. Can anyone help. Thanks Jay
The oil is not necessary if you have used the rittle tan properly, since the skin is glued onto the form and should remain in place over the years. I have always painted any snake I mounted to replace color lost through the curing process. Once finished, I spray with a matte finish acrylic lacquer, after the mount is completely dry. If there is any moisture left in the skin when the lacquer is applied, it may fog and cause milky blotches in the finish. The only "Neat Lacq" I am familar with was used as an overcoat for leather tooling and was available through Tandy's. It, in my opinion, is not a very good finish for your purpose, since it is seems too glossy to yours truly.
jack ass theve the fudgeen rattle snakes alone go stuff your mothers ass