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Post by scrub-buster on Nov 17, 2022 22:09:10 GMT -5
I'm trying to improve the quality of my skull mounts by doing more degreasing before whitening. I have a heating element controlled by a digital thermostat. Tomorrow I'll raise the temperature setpoint to 120⁰. I have 2 skulls in each bucket. They are soaking in dawn soap and ammonia. I'll probably have to dump and refill the buckets every few days.   |
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Post by scrub-buster on Nov 17, 2022 22:10:32 GMT -5
Those are skulls from last year that I haven't whitened yet. The grease was very visible on them. This should be a good test run.
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Post by BigJLocke on Nov 18, 2022 0:01:36 GMT -5
Those are skulls from last year that I haven't whitened yet. The grease was very visible on them. This should be a good test run. I used borax and Dawn on my buck from last year and it turned out great. |
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Post by BigJLocke on Nov 18, 2022 0:02:59 GMT -5
 Last years non typical, a raccoon we found squirrel hunting and my very first bucks antlers from 2005. |
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Post by scrub-buster on Nov 18, 2022 8:12:28 GMT -5
Those are skulls from last year that I haven't whitened yet. The grease was very visible on them. This should be a good test run. I used borax and Dawn on my buck from last year and it turned out great. I simmer the skulls in dawn and borax. I use peroxide to whiten them. |
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Post by scrub-buster on Nov 18, 2022 8:49:21 GMT -5
It's working. The bucket with the big rack has a lot of grease on the surface. The bucket with the two smaller racks doesn't have as much but the water is cloudy. I took the set point up to 120. I also added a ratchet strap around the tote because the walls were bowing out some.   |
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Post by BigJLocke on Nov 18, 2022 9:03:00 GMT -5
Do you ever bag and tape the antlers? If not, do you think the grease and all that changes the color of the bases? I haven’t done many, but I taped mine. Just wondering if it’sa waste of time haha
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Post by scrub-buster on Nov 18, 2022 9:36:21 GMT -5
Do you ever bag and tape the antlers? If not, do you think the grease and all that changes the color of the bases? I haven’t done many, but I taped mine. Just wondering if it’sa waste of time haha I've never taped them off. It doesn't change the color usually. When I first started I used too much borax and got peroxide on the antlers accidentally bleaching them. I dyed them with different shades of brown and blended it in. You couldn't tell. I have a huge rack that I found dead. The rack is white. I might try to dye those and bring it back to a natural color. |
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Post by scrub-buster on Nov 18, 2022 19:36:04 GMT -5
This is working faster than I expected. You can see the grease coming out of the bone. It's up to 120⁰ now. I'll need to change the water soon.   |
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Post by duff on Nov 20, 2022 7:01:39 GMT -5
Do you ever bag and tape the antlers? If not, do you think the grease and all that changes the color of the bases? I haven’t done many, but I taped mine. Just wondering if it’sa waste of time haha I was showing my buddy my skull Friday and he noticed the grease on the base of the antlers and told me he cellophane and taped his. I will do that going forward. Not impossible to deal with but the tape will reduce effort at the end of the job |
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Post by scrub-buster on Nov 20, 2022 9:16:56 GMT -5
Do you ever bag and tape the antlers? If not, do you think the grease and all that changes the color of the bases? I haven’t done many, but I taped mine. Just wondering if it’sa waste of time haha I was showing my buddy my skull Friday and he noticed the grease on the base of the antlers and told me he cellophane and taped his. I will do that going forward. Not impossible to deal with but the tape will reduce effort at the end of the job I'm going to try that on the next batch of skulls I degrease. Its collecting on the antlers more than I expected. |
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Post by scrub-buster on Dec 11, 2022 7:05:39 GMT -5
It's still pulling grease after several water/Ammonia changes. I clean the bases during each water change. I'll keep soaking them as long as grease is coming out.   |
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Post by esshup on Dec 11, 2022 12:59:58 GMT -5
What about burying them in the ground for 6 months? Leaving the antlers above the ground. Then all you have to do is whiten the bones.
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Post by whitetaildave24 on Dec 11, 2022 13:08:00 GMT -5
What about burying them in the ground for 6 months? Leaving the antlers above the ground. Then all you have to do is whiten the bones. That’s what I’ve done with some of ours. My buck from this year is buried. I’ve never whitened them either. Kinda like the yellow/brownish color when we pull them out. |
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Post by scrub-buster on Dec 11, 2022 13:21:38 GMT -5
What about burying them in the ground for 6 months? Leaving the antlers above the ground. Then all you have to do is whiten the bones. The bugs and bacteria will eat the flesh. The grease will still be in the bone and will show up down the road, even if you whiten them. My goal is to have museum quality skulls that stay perfectly white or natural forever. If I can get professional results I might start this as a side gig. I'd love to have my own small business going when I retire in 7 years. |
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Post by budd on Dec 12, 2022 10:35:16 GMT -5
What about burying them in the ground for 6 months? Leaving the antlers above the ground. Then all you have to do is whiten the bones. The bugs and bacteria will eat the flesh. The grease will still be in the bone and will show up down the road, even if you whiten them. My goal is to have museum quality skulls that stay perfectly white or natural forever. If I can get professional results I might start this as a side gig. I'd love to have my own small business going when I retire in 7 years. I do 20-25 every fall (plenty for me). I simmer, have never tried nor want to try beetles. I do not degrease deer heads, although I have seen a fair number that I should have. I do degrease bear skulls in acetone. Im starting to lean towards degreasing all the deer skulls for a week minimum. |
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Post by scrub-buster on Dec 12, 2022 18:22:41 GMT -5
I got the next piece of my skull cleaning set up. Using a heat lamp on a thermostat to heat buckets of water inside should be much more energy efficient than my current water in a tote set up. This will eventually go behind my dad's garage. I'm using it in my garage to finish up the skulls that I'm working on from this year and last season. I should be able to put 6 or more skulls inside to degrease at once.  |
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Post by scrub-buster on Mar 18, 2023 17:38:40 GMT -5
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Post by steiny on Mar 19, 2023 8:15:32 GMT -5
I change the water a few times while cooking them clean and add a little bleach or Dawn to the water on last couple rounds. They turn out plenty white enough to suit me.
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Post by onebentarrow on Mar 19, 2023 8:20:17 GMT -5
I change the water a few times while cooking them clean and add a little bleach or Dawn to the water on last couple rounds. They turn out plenty white enough to suit me. I know bleach makes them white but it is the worst thing you can do. Bleach weakens the bone and will cause it to crumble in the future. Best is to use peroxide |
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