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Skull Bleaching?

flugge

flugge

Well-Known Member
I didnt quite know where to post this..so I just put it here..but I have a few questions on skull bleaching...I stumbled on a big ten point last weekend, a road kill from last year...He had to points slightly broke, but no chew marks. He also stunk very badly. I would like to bleach the skull, and get the crap off. I was kinda stupid and went and just bought the skull bleaching kit from cabelas..The main thing I am curious about, is do I really have to boil it? What are my options with that..would a fire work, cause I know it aint ever gonna happen in the house..so just some suggestions would be greatly appreciated..thanks
Ryan
 
I am not sure what kind of condition this rack is in. But this is what I would do. If you can get a camp stove, use that. Boil the skull for a long time. After enough time, what ever is left of the garbage on the skull will peel off with ease. Your going to have cut the skull plate and clean out the the sludge where the brains used to be. Once you've cleaned it up enough, boil it some more. Then take a power washer to it. My guess is that your going to have to let it air out for a long long time. That rotten smell will soak into the bone and is super hard to get out. Someone else might have a trick to kill that. As far as the bleaching, someone else is going to have to help you out there!

Have fun with that!!
 
You can pressure spray it to get some of the junk off it first, then I'd boil the sticky thing for sure to clean it up help kill the odor. You can put some amonia in the water too but only boil it OUTSIDE and then finish it with your bleach from the kit on it.
 
I'd soak it for a while first to soften up the dried hide. Be very careful when using a knife on it, if you cut yourself you can end up with a nasty infection, TRUST ME!
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There's an easy way to get the crud off smelly antlers in velvet if you don't have access to worms. Tie an 5-6' piece of rope to the skull plate and toss in a nearby pond of creek for about a month or so. Preferably a rock bottom. Small fish and other critters will clean them completely. Allow the antlers to dry in the sun for a few days, then start your skull bleachng/tinting. Have roadkill in the creek now. Good luck.
 
Putting it in a five gallon bucket full of water also works. Let it soak for a couple months then powerwash it off. I then buy a couple 99 cent bottles of hydrogen peroxide and pour it on the skull over about two days while sitting in the sun. Cheap and easy, good results. Set in in the shade or put something over it while it is soaking or the rack will bleach out if it already isn't. Also, keep it down wind of the house. I use this method with all my found skulls during the shed hunting season.
 
I just read about a company called Skulls Unlimited they use Dermestid Beetles.... Never heard of it. Assume they eat all the dead flesh. Anyone ever heard of this? Where can you find these beetles?
 
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I just read about a company called Skulls Unlimited they use Dermestid Beetles.... Never heard of it. Assume they eat all the dead flesh. Anyone ever heard of this? Where can you find these beetles?

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Rackaddict has a thread in the PMA about dermastid beetles.
 
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Rackaddict has a thread in the PMA about dermastid beetles.

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Rackaddict has a lot of really good stuff in the PMA Conference.
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Me and my moms bf did it about 4 weeks ago... we got a big fire pit with a big...... well it was like a bowl and then we sat out on a nice decent day with the fire and water boilin and he would keep the fire goin and i would take the skull out every 20-30 min and while it is still hot get like a fork deal and scape all that crap off.... it took all day but it was worth it... it is b-e-a-utiful.... and then the next day we took it to the power washer and then sprayed all the brains and stuff out... then let it sit for 3-4 days and took bleach and rubbed it all over it and its a WHITE skull mount.... i plan on doin that same thing to my buck... if i get one this year that is
crazy.gif
haha well hopefully this helps ya out! ttyl!
#71~Sirovy~#71
 
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Rackaddict has a thread in the PMA about dermastid beetles.

[/ QUOTE ]

Rackaddict has a lot of really good stuff in the PMA Conference.
smile.gif


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Dermestid Beetles


I've got a colony. Hungry little devils!!
 
To save yourself a lot of time and hassle, go buy a bottle of hydrogen peroxide. Mix it about 1:3 with water and boil that baby for about 3 hours. The entire skull won't fit in the pot (since the antlers stick out). So simply put a cloth over and around the skull near the base of the antlers. Make sure the bottom of the cloth is in the boiling water/peroxide. The cloth will wick the fluid up and bleach the remaining part of the skull. Check it about every half hour to make sure it doesn't go too long, leaving the bone thin and brittle. I have done several skulls this way, and they turned out beautifully. Its much cheaper than the kit too!
 
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leaving the bone thin and brittle

[/ QUOTE ] That's the problem right there, especially on younger or small specimens.
 
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