How to Mount a Snake Hide on a Plaque

Make sure that the snake is dead. Secure an area that is either outdoors or that you wouldn't mind soiling, as the process of skinning, tanning and mounting the snake may be messy. Then, lay the snake out so that its belly is facing up towards you.

Slit the skin of the snake with a scalpel of sharp knife, moving from the tips of the tail towards the snake's head. Carefully pull at the skin, moving slowly as it peels off of the snake. If you would like to preserve the snake's head, also remove the skin, but maneuver cautiously around the fangs to prevent injuring yourself. If not, slice the head off.

Again, lay the snake skin out so that the inside of the skin is facing you. Scrape the meat off of the skin with the knife. Avoid tugging on the snake skin, as this may stretch it out. Pin the snake skin down in place, again without stretching it and apply tanning oil gently using a paint brush.

Let the oil dry for eight to 10 hours and add another coat of tanning oil, letting it dry for eight to 10 hours again. While the ski is drying, prepare your plaque. Sand it down so that it is smooth and add varnish to it if desired. Once the skin is dry, gently soak up leftover oil with a towel.

Apply a thin layer of rubber cement to the underside of the snake skin and press the skin onto the plaque. Make sure that the skin is centered on the plaque and smooth it out so that it isn't wrinkled or bent. Let it dry.