How do tan a snake skin Cheap?

[Free Bow N]

I have the skin soaking in salt water, I want to make an arm guard or? Does anyone know what to do next to keep this soft and flexible? Thank you

[RAU]

The only thing I've done with snakes I've skinned myself is tacked them out an air dried them to back bows or crest arrows. Maybe this link will point you in the right direction. I really enjoy these guy's videos.

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=cmPv5ug8NZw&desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DcmPv5ug8NZw

[RAU]

The only thing I've done with snakes I've skinned myself is tacked them out an air dried them to back bows or crest arrows. Maybe this link will point you in the right direction. I really enjoy these guy's videos.

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=cmPv5ug8NZw&desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DcmPv5ug8NZw

[Pat B]

You don't need to tan it but now you will need to remove the salt.You can glue a dried skin to the leather and just seal. You will want to stitch around it to keep it from lifting along the edge.

[Fattony77]

There is a product out there that allows you to soft tan snake skins like a leather for crafting. I don't remember the name of it, but a google search might help. If I find my box of it I'll re-post or PM. Sorry I wasn't more help.

[Kituwa]

You rub glycerin on it.

[Kituwa]

I guess i should be a little more detailed. First rinse all that salt water off of it.Then staple or tack the skin on a board with the flesh side out. Let it dry about two days. Then scrape the scales off, i just use a knife held straight up and down with the grain or from head end to tail.After you have removed all the dry scales it will look sort of faded but the color will come back so no worries. Now start rubbing in the glycerin and work the skin.You may have to repeat with the glycerin a few times over a few days. You can get the glycerin at any drug store.I assume you fleshed the skin out pretty good after you skinned it? If not you can remove any fat or flesh after the skin was dried.

[Free Bow N]

Many thanks to all that given a response to my post.
Any and All help is needed. I did clean off the flesh and it has been soaking in the heavy salt water a few days now, WOW what a nice skin. I want to use it as is as soon as I can find the glycerin I will be putting together an arm guard for a Christmas present.  Thanks thanks and Give Thanks

[Kituwa]

If you are going to make an arm guard and cover some leather with the snake skin, you wont need to tan it soft like with the glycerin. You still tack the skin up to dry, and then when you are ready to glue it to leather you just soak the sking for a few minits in water and it gets soft again.Then you put the glue on and spred the snake on the glued leather till the glue drys and trim around the leather. May want to run a row of stitching around the edge.Or if you are carfull you can use the skin dry and use contact glue to put it on the leather.If you do use glycerin it will not glue well at all.

[ARCHER2]

Does the glycerin method work for skins that you intend to glue on bows? Wasn't sure if it had an oily effect to it.

[Roadkill]

van dykes reptile tan at $11 is a lot of tan for the money with some flexilbity on how you use it

[rainman]

You can use antifreeze for the glycerin and they will stick to a glass bow but you have to prep them different.  I have a buddy that does it this way, I still prefer to air dry them.