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Offline DRon knife

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snake skin ??
« on: July 17, 2012, 11:16:11 pm »
Howdy! A friend killed a nice rattler and asked me if I knew how long he should leave it stretched and salted for? I didn't know so I thought I would ask the pros? Any help would be greatly appreciated,being that I will be the recipient when done ;D Thanx,Ron
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Offline JW_Halverson

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Re: snake skin ??
« Reply #1 on: July 17, 2012, 11:19:07 pm »
As thin as they are, a day or two will usually do the trick. 
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Stringman

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Re: snake skin ??
« Reply #2 on: July 17, 2012, 11:25:48 pm »
Ive never used salt either. Just tack em down (flesh side up,) and they will be dry in no time.
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Offline criveraville

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Re: snake skin ??
« Reply #3 on: July 17, 2012, 11:32:04 pm »
Like they said no salt. As hot as it is a couple of hours should do it.

Cipriano
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I was HECHO EN MEXICO, but assembled in Texas and I'm Texican as the day is long...  Psalm 127:4 As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth.

Offline osage outlaw

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Re: snake skin ??
« Reply #4 on: July 17, 2012, 11:34:34 pm »
I like to leave mine tacked down for a week or two just to make sure they are good and dry even though they seem dry after the first day.  I don't use salt either.

You should have your friend put the carcass somewhere the bugs can clean it for him.  The vertebrae make a cool looking necklace.
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Offline Pat B

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Re: snake skin ??
« Reply #5 on: July 18, 2012, 01:57:33 am »
The salt will attract moisture to the skin wich can cause it to rot. He should rinse all the salt from the skin and re-stretch the skin to dry. What is your friend gonna use the skin for?
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Offline bowtarist

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Re: snake skin ??
« Reply #6 on: July 18, 2012, 10:28:16 am »
If you feel the need to put something on it, 20 Mule Team Borax is your best bet. Then brush it off into a tub and it can be reused...atleast that's what I do.  ;) dp
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Offline TRACY

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Re: snake skin ??
« Reply #7 on: July 20, 2012, 10:48:25 am »
I never salt them. Just tack them down at the head and move toward the tail, scraping any membrane or flesh off as I go with a spoon. When done tacking, it is clean,and only takes a couple hours in the sun to dry. Untack and roll it up and hold the roll with a rubber band. I have a gallon zip lock bag that I put them in for storing.

Tracy
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Offline Eric Krewson

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Re: snake skin ??
« Reply #8 on: July 20, 2012, 11:11:17 am »
Nix on borax as well.  I get skins in from friends every now and then, I have found you can't always tell if a skin has been salted or boraxed. Bottom line, they just won't stick on a bows back if they have been treated.

Last time I encountered treated skins, I was deep into gluing a set on the back of a bow and noticed things weren't going right. I removed the skins, washed the glue off the back of the bow and headed to the laundry sink with the skins. I washed the skins and washed and then washed them some more. I washed the skins for at least a half hour.

My next attempt at backing a bow with them went just fine.

I later found out the skins had been salted, I couldn't tell it from looking at them.
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Offline bowtarist

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Re: snake skin ??
« Reply #9 on: July 20, 2012, 01:52:07 pm »
Quote from: Eric Krewson on July 20, 2012, 11:11:17 am
Nix on borax as well. Bottom line, they just won't stick on a bows back if they have been treated.

I'd say you're right on w/ that Eric.  I haven't backed a bow w/ snake, I tanned one and made a headband and the other my wife sewed to some felt and we display it.  I don't kill snakes unless they are poisonous and near my house.  The head band is copper head the other is rattler.
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Offline DRon knife

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Re: snake skin ??
« Reply #10 on: July 28, 2012, 05:18:26 pm »
ok guys great!! I now have one side of a nice bow,it may just make a pair if I have a matching skin somewhere.Thanks a bunch! Ron :)
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