u/w0nkwonk

(Pt. 2 : https://www.reddit.com/r/HideTanning/comments/1t7cxzy/python_skin_defleshed_what_next_kinda_confused/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=mweb3x&utm_name=mweb3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button)

Haven't had this piece bark tanned due to resource issues, but I do intend to do so asap. I still don't know what to use because I don't want to alter the colors on this skin. But for now, she's already been treated with the alcohol-glycerin mix, and I had her rolled up on a thick stick to dry, stretching and re-rolling her every other day.

I've been taking her down to scrub out the remaining tissue fluff for two days now using a 120 grit sandpaper. I made the initial mistake of using a smaller grip previously, and thinned out a part of the skin a little too much. After I realized my mistake I've stuck to 120 grit for manual buffing.

Pic 1: Scale side of the skin. The top most keratin layer (the transparent, iridescent flakes) are gradually coming loose and flaking off on their own. As much as I'm aware this is normal, is there any way to bring back the iridescent effect on the skin?

Pic 2-3: Flesh side of the skin. How do I remove the remaining fluff? It's been dried out and I've found it easier to work on it while it's dry. I've been using 120 grit sandpaper and a tweezer, but it takes forever to work with. My thumbs (both now down with trigger finger on the PI joint bc of the constant work pressure) would greatly appreciate any tips 😭

Pic 3: I have a bunch on holes on this girl. I've been reading through stich-related posts on this subreddit but I haven't seen anything specific for python skin. Do the same techniques apply to snakeskin? Would love some specific advice here, mostly for reassurance haha.

Pic 4-5: I've noticed that a bunch of scales looked a little different from the rest scales on the skin(pic 4). I dried off the alcohol by rolling the skin on a stick nice and taut. Is this due to the drying process? Is there any way I can fix this? This happened to a bunch of scales that were next to the ones in pic 5.

Pic 6: This is how I roll up the skin to dry/store. I try to keep it taut when it's stored this way. I've unrolled and stretched it every other day during the drying process. Now that it's dry, I take it out every day to scrub out the residual tissue. I've been scrubbing this for two days.

* I live in a very humid, tropical country with very limited resources for this hobby (tanning bottles and mixes are impossible to acquire and not worth the insane shipping fees).

** I intend to fashion a hat band, bracelet, and maybe a wallet out of this project.

After all of this is done and over with, I do intend to log everything down into a single post. Hopefully this little experiment will be helpful for anyone who might be struggling with python skin 🐍

Ok u/jesters_emperor has helped me lots with this journey (thank you!) but I have a tendency to overthink 😵‍💫

I've got this python skin that's just been properly defleshed. Prior to this, it was sitting in an alcohol-glycerin mix with bits of flesh stuck to it. It's been sitting in there for about a week and a half with daily agitation. I want to use the skin for a bracelet, a hat band, and as an accent for a wallet.

I've been looking for vege/bark tanning extracts since oak and other typical bark materials mentioned in this subreddit aren't available to me, and I might just go use some mimosa extract powder since I've found a supplier (hoping that they sell them in smaller batches 🤞🏻). If not, I'll have to start foraging for native bark soon haha.

Now I've been told that a vege/bark tan is the way to go. Should I pickle the skin before I start tanning it? Or can I just tan it right away? If I have to pickle it, will vinegar and salt do? I saw someone mention using those ingredients for their snake pickling mix (https://www.cascity.com/forumhall/index.php?topic=44693.0).

Or did the alcohol-glycerin preservation mix work as a pickling solution as well?

So far this is the gist of what I plan to do:

Pickle/Tan > Stitch up holes (what stitch material to use? Is the baseball stitch the best stitching technique? ) > Stretch board to dry and make leather pliable > Wash off with water and pat dry > Snake skin is now proper, usable leather(?)

Would need all the advice and tips y'all can give! 🤲🏻

I live in a tropical and very humid country. I feel like that will affect the snake skin but I'm not sure how so I'm just going to mention that.