TANNING INSTRUCTIONS FOR REPTILES: Alligators, Turtles, Lizards, Snakes
Alligators / Large Reptiles:
- flesh salt heavily for 24 hours…
- knock salt off re-salt heavily for 24 additional hours
- rehydrate in plain COLD water until fully relaxed
- proceed to pickle
Small Scaleless Snakes / Lizards, etc.:
- flesh & salt overnight
- rehydrate in plain cold water & proceed to pickle
Citric Acid Pickle Formula:
- per gallon water
- 1 lb. salt
- 3 oz. CITRIC ACID (maintain pH 1.8-2.0 w/ Citric Acid pickle)
- 1 fl. oz. DEGREASER
- pickle 1-3 days (thicker skins: 3 days…thin / small skins: overnight)
- (Note: 4-5 days pickling may be needed for larger alligators)
- fine flesh / shave
- degrease (see below)
- proceed to tan
Degreasing Bath Formula:
- per gallon WARM water (80-85 deg F)
- 1 cup salt
- 1 fl. oz. DEGREASER
- soak 30 minutes to 1 hour for thicker skins
Brush On Tanning Option: (for small reptiles, scaleless snakes, lizards, etc.)
Neutralize pickled skin before applying BRUSH ON TANNING OIL:
- per gallon cool water
- 1/2 cup salt
- 2 tablespoons baking soda
- soak 10-15 minutes…remove, rinse, press dry w/ paper towel
- apply BRUSH ON TANNING OIL (fold skin-to-skin)
- leave at room temp. to end of day…bag & refrigerate
- wipe off excess oil prior to mounting
Submersible Tan Option: (for small reptiles, scaleless snakes, lizards, etc.)
Note: see Submersible Tan for Alligators / Large Reptiles below
- per quart cool water
- 2 oz. salt by weight
- 1 tablespoon measure LEATHER TANNING CONCENTRATE
- remove from pickle, add to tan solution (soak overnight)
- to finish, add 2 teaspoon measures baking soda to tan solution (soak 15 minutes)
- remove, rinse…press dry w/ paper towel & apply LEATHER FINISHING OIL
- fold skin-to-skin & leave at room temp. to end of day…bag & refrigerate
- wipe off excess oil prior to mounting
Rattlesnake / Copperhead Tanning
NO PRE-PICKLE REQUIRED
- skin & flesh clean…
TANNING SOLUTION:
- 1 gallon cool water
- 1 cup salt
- 2 fl. oz. LEATHER TANNING CONCENTRATE
- 1 fl. oz. DEGREASER
- add skin to solution & soak 1 hour minimum
- remove, rinse & press-dry w/ paper towel
- oil w/ BRUSH-ON TANNING OIL (fold skin-to-skin…leave @ room temp. to end of day)
- ready to mount or bag & refrigerate (wipe off excess oil prior to mounting)
Decorative Skins:
tack out first, then apply oil…let skin dry
Submersible Tanning: (for alligators & large reptiles / large scalesless snakes)
- drain skins briefly from pickle, weigh & go straight to Tan Solution
- DO NOT PRE-NEUTRALIZE
- round weight up or down to get 5 lb increments (i.e. 18 to 20, etc.)
Volume Submersible Tan Bath Formula for Alligators:
Note: this formula is good for appx. 10 lbs. drained, pickled skin…
simply double the amounts for 20 lbs., and so on…
- per 5 gallon water
- 2 1/2 lb. salt
- 8 fl. oz. LEATHER TANNING CONCENTRATE
- tan 24-48 hours…agitate periodically
- remove skin, mix 1/2 cup baking soda into tan bath (mix well)
- re-add skin & agitate periodically 1 hour
- remove, rinse, drain
- apply warmed LEATHER FINISHING OIL…or
- (Note: it is alright to use the BRUSH ON TANNING OIL as well for oiling)
- fold skin-to-skin…cover w/ plastic & sweat overnight @ room temp.
- to mount, simply rinse briefly in lukewarm water & drain
Note: you can add TANLIQUOR OIL to the tan as a “fatliquor” for added value…
pre-mix w/ “3 parts warm water mixed slowly INTO 1 part oil”, and then add.
(1 fl. oz. per gallon solution…then mix 3 parts water: 1part oil)
Note: for “decorative / flat skin alligator displays”
(body skin only / no head attached)
double the amount of Leather Tanning Concentrate in the above formula…
- sweat in first coat of finishing oil overnight
- then tack out skin
- apply another coat of warmed finishing oil…let dry
- the hide will dry stiff, but will be functional as a decorative display
- once dry, you can wipe clean any excess oil with a sponge and warm water
