First euro in peroxide right now

[7mmfan]

So I've taken a little over a month now to clean/degrease my skull, and today I put in a bath of 40 volume hair developer creme.

I am not mixing it with powder, but instead just letting it soak. I've read many blurbs online about letting it soak for 4-6, 12, 24 hours and so on. Some say pull it out after a few hours, hose it off, let it dry in sunlight... well its clearly not sunny today. Another said to put it right under bright halogen lights.

Any input from you guys that have used this stuff before on duration of soak and whether putting it under bright/warm light is necessary to achieve the white I want?

[DIYARCHERYJUNKIE]

Painting on the cream or soaking will give you bright white effects without any light.  just be carful to keep the liquid off the antlers it will bleach them too.  That's why I paint it on so I can get all the way up to the base with the white.

[sirmissalot]

Usually the light is used to just produce heat. That same hair developer you have is used at hair salons, and they have the ladies sit under those big goofy things over their heads that blows hot air. In my experience it just speeds things up but is not needed. You should be able to soak in the 40 volume whitener for a couple days, pull it out let dry and see if it's to your liking.

[7mmfan]

Great, thanks for the replies. I have it about 2/3 covered in the bath, paper towels wrapped around the pedacles soaked in peroxide to whiten there but keep the antlers themselves out of the liquid. I am brushing the top and sides of the skull that are not in the liquid every half hour or so to keep it very wet and covered. Sounds like I'm on the right track. Thanks!

[sirmissalot]

Yup you should be good. I prefer to soak as well, it whitens all the little bones all the way through instead of just the surface, looks a lot better.

[7mmfan]

Wasn't happy with how high the liquid was sitting on the skull, so had to put some "filler" in the pail. Now its sitting perfectly about 1/4" below the base of the antlers and filling the eye sockets. Looking good! I'm getting excited!

[HUNTINCOUPLE]

In glad you posted this. I macerated my bull from this year and it has been ready for the peroxide. Good idea on the filler! My wife is going to laugh if I'm sitting in the bathroom soaking my skull as I empty some fillers!

[7mmfan]

In glad you posted this. I macerated my bull from this year and it has been ready for the peroxide. Good idea on the filler! My wife is going to laugh if I'm sitting in the bathroom soaking my skull as I empty some fillers!

Of some of the odd things that are done in bathrooms, sitting on the toilet drinking beer so you can use the bottles as filler to whiten a deer skull is probably right up there with the best of them     Can't argue with success though!

[DIYARCHERYJUNKIE]

that will look sweet! 

[Smossy]

I like the 40 Volume cream as well as it seems to work alittle better then the liquid if you can get it to work into the small crevices but I've noticed that sometimes the cream being so thick, Once it starts to oxidize it creates a bubble around the bone sometimes and leaves a big spot where you can notice it did nothing. Not sure if anyone's found a way around that or tried to thin the cream out alittle with water?

[7mmfan]

I noticed the last time I went up and brushed over the top of the skull that there was a fizz/bubble worked up just below the eye socket. I carefully lifted the skull, stirred up the liquid, and set it back in and then ran the brush all around the skull that was below the surface. I think it helped get everything situated properly again.

Already seeing a significant whitening, it looks great.

[7mmfan]

What does everyone do once the skull is whitened and dried to seal them? I've read of matte finish polyurethane, or spar varnish, etc... I'd also like to keep the bark and junk at the base of the horns, do you think coating it with either of the above would work?

[Smossy]

What does everyone do once the skull is whitened and dried to seal them? I've read of matte finish polyurethane, or spar varnish, etc... I'd also like to keep the bark and junk at the base of the horns, do you think coating it with either of the above would work?

Personally I kinda like the dull look. But Yeah if you wanted to preserve it and prevent it from cracking and degrading Id just get some clearcoat polyurethane spray and do like 2 or 3 real thin coats

[sirmissalot]

A sealer helps preserve the bone and mostly helps aid in cleaning, it seals up the pores of the bone so it makes dusting skulls off a lot easier.

I use paraloid B-72. Its the same stuff museums use to preserve bone. I like a low gloss, like a satin. You can use pretty much any water white (non yellowing) clear finish.

[7mmfan]

Is there one sealant that people prefer over another? I do not want a high gloss sheen on it, but would like to have it sealed as a preservative measure. A flat or matte finish polyurethane I'm guessing?