RE: cleaning a skull
 

Wimp:

The sun likely bleached it. Another way to whiten a skull is to leave it in the sun for a long period of time. The sun works slowly, but it will get white eventually. Bleach will whiten antlers, as I imagine peroxide would, as well. It wont take too long either. I have had teh color come out after a few hours...

RE: cleaning a skull
 

Just a suggestion on the peroxide thing. You would probably have better luck if once you put the peroxide on you put it in a dark room or closet. Peroxide will react to light it will release an oxygen atom leaving oxygen gas and water. This is why peroxide is stored in dark bottles. It should bleach bones very well. Ive never done it but I do teach chemistry and peroxide is a strong oxidizer.

"Nothing in all the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity" Martin Luther King Jr.

RE: cleaning a skull
 

Charlie; I use a large bucket ( large enough to totally submerge the skull ) I tie the antlers to the bucket handle or use a dowl rod across the top of the bucket to tie the antlers to, so to keep the antlers from coming in contact with the water. I add 1/8th cup bleach to 1/4 cup bleach to the water, this will not not whiten the skull it comes out a bone yellow color. It does help to kill odors left in the skull and will lighten up any dark spots on the skull.I have yet to try the peroxide paste but I am interested in trying it.

RE: cleaning a skull
 

one of the best ways is to let mother nature do it.
puting the skull on a ant hill the ants will clean it
spotless inside and out done this with turtle shells
works great

RE: cleaning a skull
 

I did an internet search on Google on "European skull mounts" and got more info than I could use. Wish I could remember where I wound up. I kind of took sugestions from a couple of sites. I skinned the head and scraped all the meat off. Then I boiled the head in water for a couple of hours. Then again in water with 64oz of peroxide from W-Mart. Keep the antlers out of the boiling water. Then I sprayed the skull with straight peroxide and took a toothbrush to it. This mount wound up very white. My wife says it stays in my shop in the garage though. I think it hurt her feelings when I said the skull was whiter than her legs in January. Jim

RE: cleaning a skull
 

If you are using peroxide,Use 40 volume that is what hair dresser's use to bleach hair.
I use the 40 volume stuff on skull mount's I did,,Be carefull not to touch the antler's because it will bleach them as well,Keep a can of clean water in case you do touch the antler's and wipe them right away with a clean rag.
When I do it I use a cotton swab and rubber gloves,When I'm done I set it in full sunlight it help's the bleaching as it dries.
It will come out bone white,I like the resault's I get with it.
For the 40 volum peroxide check with a local hair dresser,explain what you want it for and they will usually help you out with getting you some.
Good Luck To You

BOB
BE SURE OF YOUR SHOT&WHATS BEHIND YOUR SHOT.,,MAKE A QUICK CLEAN KILL

Edited by - 9th tine on 11/22/2002 19:49:09