We use a mixture of 50% pure glycerin and 50% denatured alcohol...Scrape the flesh side well, don't get it too thin... Stretch the skin on a board (not the display board ) and tack it down, flesh side up... Put a liberal coat of the mixture on the skin with a paint brush... Let it sit, don't mess with it until it's a bit dry, 2 or 3 days ... Repeat with a little bit less mix, and wait again... If the skin looks dry, do it again... Three times usually does it, maybe once more... Apparently the alcohol allows the glycerin to penetrate the skin, then evaporates off... It won't take much, only a couple of ounces at the most...Make sure you stir/mix the stuff right before you use it, it tends to want to separate in the jar...Pure glycerin can be found at some but not all drug stores in a bottle 4oz. or sometimes 8oz...
I'm planning to use my snake hide on a hickory selfbow. Is this process going to make the skin too oily? Any suggestions?