Submitted by Ron on 7/15/99. ( )
Just wanted to let yall know that antifreeze tans snake skins quickly and keeps them soft and stretchable.And it probably cost less than those tanning agents you get from those taxidermy suppliers.
This response submitted by Bob P. in Nebr. on 7/16/99. ( )
I have literature (somewhere in my files) that describes and illustrates using ethelene glycol (anti-freeze) for deer feet mounting as well. I have talked with a couple people who use it exclusively for deer feet and claim they have excellent results. If that's the case, there should be no reason why it wouldn't work as well on something as thin as a snake skin.
This response submitted by John C on 7/18/99. ( )
I have seen way to many people try to use anti freeze. NO NO NO it will turn your snake green, but thats ok if you have a green Anaconda or some other green snake. WASCO has a good product, as is SNAKE TAN from Yuma. Calif. John C
This response submitted by Bruce Rittel on 7/18/99. ( rittel@ici.net )
What do you prefer - a skin thats tanned and is real leather, or simply a preserved raw skin? With real leather you can make hatbands, belts or wallets and they can take a beating. They wont lose anything when subjected to stress or heat - and they're strong, as compared to preserved skins. And a tannage over a long period of time wont evaporate leaving the skin brittle and weak. The basic difference between a tanned skin and a preserved one, is that the tanned skin is actually stabilized with chemicals. It doesnt break down over time. Antifreeze and glycerine type preservatives simply stuff the leather and do not chemically bond to the fibers - and heat and stress will drive them out of the fibers. It all boils down to - what suits your purpose? Short Term/Long Term?