I need snake skin help

[smoon]

I got my hands on several nice rattler skins. I tanned or preserved them using alcohol and glycerin formula. I mixed it 6 oz glycerin and 6 oz denatured alcohol just like several told me. They turned out great ! Problem.........I started making a knife sheath for my son today, glued a piece of timber rattler skin to the leather and it won't stick. I used contact cement and applied the glue to the leather and snake skin and let it get tacky and put them together but the glue won't stick to the snake skin. Does the glycerin make a barrier between the snake skin and the glue ? What did I do wrong ?
Thanks,

 

[DC KNIVES]

I do alot of these and use pretty much the same formula, except for adding acetone in equal ratio's.How long after you applied the mixture, till the time you used them?After thoroughly drying my skins ,I powder them with baby powder and then roll them up for storage.When ready to use I wash off the skin and let it dry for a few minutes before apllying glue.Your method sounds ok, and I have never had any skin not want to get stuck.Dave


http://dcknivesandleather.blademakers.com/

 

[smoon]

I do alot of these and use pretty much the same formula, except for adding acetone in equal ratio's.How long after you applied the mixture, till the time you used them?After thoroughly drying my skins ,I powder them with baby powder and then roll them up for storage.When ready to use I wash off the skin and let it dry for a few minutes before apllying glue.Your method sounds ok, and I have never had any skin not want to get stuck.Dave


http://dcknivesandleather.blademakers.com/

Thanks Dave,
The skins were finished three weeks ago. Today, I tried washing the section of skin I was using in denatured alcohol and let it dry and then applied the glue and it stuck but not with a real firm setting. Maybe I didn't let the skin dry enough after the tanning process before putting it in the zip-lock bag. Didn't use baby powders either. I'll give it a try ! Thanks for your help !
Steve

 

[Steel Talon]

Smoon,

FWIW,

"The simplest method for tanning a snake skin is to pickle it which you have done,to create "leather" I'd suggest that you rinse skins and apply Rittle's Kwick-N-Eze to the inside surface, fold, allow to sweat for an hour or two and that is that.

If you desire a really tough leather product, nothing will beat the Snake tan from Bruce Rittle. It is not advisable to use the product when mounting snakes, since the finished skin shrinks somewhat Bruce's product produces a thick and tough leather for belts, hatbands, and the like.

http://rittelsupplies.net/images/header.gif

Lonestar Taxidermy supply sells a fine reptile tan that leaves the skins as soft as they are fresh from the snake.Ask for their snake tan

www.lonestartaxidermy.com


ST~