Making a snakeskin hatband ??

[SolocamShooter]

I have a copperhead that I want to make a hatband out of. What is the proper procedure for doing this?

[sailor]

Depends, is it alive or dead?

[Encinal]

I have a copperhead that I want to make a hatband out of. What is the proper procedure for doing this?

Get it to bite its tail and hold.

Slip it over hat brim.

Walk Gently.

[trailboss]

I might could help ya make a watch band!

Trailboss

[medic151]

After skinning it, place it on a board and mix equal parts of glycerin and antifreeze. Brush it on the skin 2 times a day for a couple of weeks. This will make it plyable. After that, it is however you want to do it. Some people use hot glue or stitches to hold over the folds at the edges. I would think that a piece of felt glued to the back would give it more substance and would be easier to handle. Also, cut off all the belly scales when you skin it. I have also heard of some people using a shilack(sp) to gloss the skin. Hope this helps.

[SolocamShooter]

Get it to bite its tail and hold.

Slip it over hat brim.

Walk Gently.

LOL

mix equal parts of glycerin and antifreeze.

Where do you get the glycerin? Thanks!!

[Joey~AP]

Dont know why....the title just made me think of this.

Hope ya dont mind.


"This Old Cowboy's Hat"
Chris Ledoux

Verse 1:
Well I was sitting in a coffee shop
just having a cup to pass the time
swapping rodeo stories with this old cowboy friend of mine.
When some motorcycle riders started snickering in the back
started poking fun at my friend's hat.

Verse 2:
One old boy said "hey Tex, where'd you park your horse"
My friend just pulled his hat down low, but they couldn't be
ignored.
One husky fella said "I think I'll rip that hat right off your
head".
That's when my friend turned around, and this is what he said...

Chorus:
You'll ride a black tornado across a western sky.
Rope an old blue norther and milk it 'till it's dry.
Bulldog the Mississippi, pin its ears down flat
Long before you take this cowboy's hat.

Verse 3:
Now partner, this old hat's better left alone.
You see, it used to be my daddy's, but last year he passed on.
My nephew skinned the rattler that makes up this old hat band.
But back in '69, he died in Vietnam.

Verse 4:
Now the eagle feather was given to me by an Indian friend of mine.
Someone ran him down somewhere around that Arizona line.
And a real special lady give me this hat pin
And I don't know if I'll ever see her again.

Chorus:

Verse 5:
Now if your leather jacket means to you what this hat means to me,
then I guess we understand each other, and we'll just let it be.
But if you still think it's funny,
Man, you got my back up against the wall
And if you touch my hat, you're gonna have to fight us all.

Verse 6:
Well right then I caught a little sadness in that gang leader's
eyes.
He turned back to the others and they all just kind of shuffled on
outside
But when my friend turned back towards me I noticed his old hat brim
Well it was turned up in a big old Texas grin!

[SolocamShooter]

Not at all

[rtread]

LOL



Where do you get the glycerin? Thanks!!

I use a 50% mix of methyl alcohol and glycerin....both can be found at Walgreens or Walmart. Most antifreeze has an ethylene glycol base which is similar to the above mixture. I have used strips of thin cardboard and glued the skin to the cardboard. A good method of getting exactly the right size is get a measurement with a piece of string or cord.

[SaltwaterSlick]

I have used the glycerin/alchol mixture for snake skins for upwards of 30 years, and in fact still have the very first snake I cured with it and it is still soft and pliable to this day. Once you get the skin cured, it is just a sewing job. Felt or canvas stitched to the back will give it some body. Cut it so the edges of the skin fold around the backing material. Once you have backing done, fold it around your hat and cut to length and stitch the ends together. Belly scales do not work good, so trim the skin after it is cured so that once it is rolled around the backing, the belly portion of the skin does not show on the front (outside) of the hatband. Good luck, and post up some pics after you're done.

[SolocamShooter]

Good luck, and post up some pics after you're done.

Will do. Thanks to all for the replies they were very helpful

[cwm_tx]

Dont know why....the title just made me think of this.

Hope ya dont mind.


"This Old Cowboy's Hat"
Chris Ledoux

Verse 1:
Well I was sitting in a coffee shop
just having a cup to pass the time
swapping rodeo stories with this old cowboy friend of mine.
When some motorcycle riders started snickering in the back
started poking fun at my friend's hat.

Verse 2:
One old boy said "hey Tex, where'd you park your horse"
My friend just pulled his hat down low, but they couldn't be
ignored.
One husky fella said "I think I'll rip that hat right off your
head".
That's when my friend turned around, and this is what he said...

Chorus:
You'll ride a black tornado across a western sky.
Rope an old blue norther and milk it 'till it's dry.
Bulldog the Mississippi, pin its ears down flat
Long before you take this cowboy's hat.

Verse 3:
Now partner, this old hat's better left alone.
You see, it used to be my daddy's, but last year he passed on.
My nephew skinned the rattler that makes up this old hat band.
But back in '69, he died in Vietnam.

Verse 4:
Now the eagle feather was given to me by an Indian friend of mine.
Someone ran him down somewhere around that Arizona line.
And a real special lady give me this hat pin
And I don't know if I'll ever see her again.

Chorus:

Verse 5:
Now if your leather jacket means to you what this hat means to me,
then I guess we understand each other, and we'll just let it be.
But if you still think it's funny,
Man, you got my back up against the wall
And if you touch my hat, you're gonna have to fight us all.

Verse 6:
Well right then I caught a little sadness in that gang leader's
eyes.
He turned back to the others and they all just kind of shuffled on
outside
But when my friend turned back towards me I noticed his old hat brim
Well it was turned up in a big old Texas grin!

That is one of the best songs ever

[dennisomfs]

..as above for the cure, but I used a thin,old leather belt of my wife's that I then stitched the skin around...then sized it to the hat, then made a small loop going at 90 degrees to hide where I joined the leather....was pretty durable and not affected by weather (rain) etc.