When it comes to snakeskin tanning one of the common questions we receive is:
"Do I need both the Snake Tanning Agent and Snake Oil?"
The answer is simple:
Yes. Both products perform completely different jobs, and both are essential and used with each other for producing soft, durable snakeskin leather.
Understanding the role of each product will help you achieve the best possible results when tanning rattlesnakes, bull snakes, pythons, boas, and other snakeskins.
What Does the Snake Tanning Agent Do?
The Snake Tanning Agent, “Step 1”, is responsible for the actual tanning process. Tanning permanently transforms a raw snakeskin into leather by stabilizing the skin's protein structure and preventing decomposition. See our related article on The Basic Steps of Hide Tanning Explained.
Without tanning, a snakeskin may dry and appear preserved for a short time, but it will eventually become brittle, deteriorate, and have a limited lifespan.
The Snake Tanning Agent:
- Converts raw skin into leather
- Prevents decomposition
- Stabilizes the skin fibers
- Creates a durable, long-lasting hide
- Preserves the natural scale pattern and appearance
Think of the tanning agent as the product that permanently preserves the skin.
What Does Snake Oil Do?
While the tanning agent converts the skin into leather, the Snake Oil performs a completely different function. Snake Oil, “Step 2”, lubricates the leather fibers that have been tanned. This step is also referred to as “Swabbing”. It keeps the tanned leather soft and pliable.
As leather dries, the fibers naturally want to bond together and stiffen. Proper oiling separates and lubricates those fibers, allowing the finished skin to remain flexible and soft.
Snake Oil helps:
- Improve softness and flexibility
- Reduce stiffness during drying
- Lubricate leather fibers
- Improve handling characteristics
- Create a more supple finished skin
Think of the oil as the product that gives the leather its softness and flexibility.
Why You Need Both Products
A common misconception is that tanning and oiling are the same thing. They are not.
If You Use Only the Tanning Agent
The skin will be tanned and preserved, but it will dry stiff and lack the flexibility desired for many projects.
If You Use Only Snake Oil
The skin is not actually tanned. Applying oil to an untanned skin does not preserve it or convert it into leather. The skin will eventually deteriorate because the tanning process never occurred.
Get The Best Results
The best snake leather is produced when:
- You start with a fresh, well taken care of skin.
- The skin is properly tanned with Snake Tanning Agent.
- The skin is then treated with Snake Oil.
- The skin is softened as it dries. This means gently working it with your hands - this is especially true for thicker constrictor snakeskins.
This combination produces leather that is both preserved and flexible.
The Team Approach: Tanning Plus Oiling
You can think of the process this way:
Snake Tanning Agent = Preservation
Snake Oil = Softness and Flexibility
One product cannot do the job of the other. Together, they create a finished snakeskin that is durable, attractive, and easier to work with for display pieces, crafts, leather projects, taxidermy mounts, and educational specimens.
What Types of Snakes Can Be Tanned?
Our Snake Tanning Agent and Snake Oil are commonly used on:
- Rattlesnakes
- Bull snakes
- Gopher snakes
- Pythons
- Boas
- Water snakes
- Rat snakes
- Other small reptile skins (like iguanas)
The process works on both small and large skins when proper preparation and tanning procedures are followed.
Watch the Process in Action
If you're new to tanning snakeskins, be sure to visit our YouTube channel for step-by-step demonstrations and tips used on many different species of snakeskins.
Our videos cover:
- Skin preparation
- Fleshing & salting techniques
- Tanning procedures
- Oiling and softening
- Drying methods
- Finished project examples
Whether you're tanning your first rattlesnake or working with a large python skin, these tutorials can help you achieve professional-looking results.
Final Thoughts
The Snake Tanning Agent and Snake Oil are designed to work together. The tanning agent preserves the raw skin and converts it into leather. The oil lubricates the leather fibers and helps create the softness and flexibility that make a finished snakeskin enjoyable to handle and display.
For the best results, don't think of them as optional alternatives. Think of them as two essential steps in the same process. When used together, they help transform a raw snakeskin into durable, long-lasting snakeskin leather that can be enjoyed for years to come.
Ready to tan your next snakeskin? Explore our Snake Tanning Agent, and Snake Oil, or the full Tan-a-Snake tanning kit all with step-by-step educational resources from Advanced Tanning Solutions.
