Preserving horns

[YoterHunter]

I have a big two point that I shot about 15 years ago. I boiled the skull and put some bleach in the water . In the process of this the horns slipped in the water. Now my horns are starting to flake what can I do. To help protect the horns. One of these years I'm going to have it mounted.the deer was aged at 9-10 years old.

[sirmissalot]

Cool old buck. That's not uncommon with boiled skulls. Boiling is very hard on bone and bleach is worse. I use paranoid b 72 to preserve bone, I soak skulls in it and let it penetrate the bone. That might be what you need.

[Maverick]

A buddy showed me a rack that the antlers were chipping away like that. Never had seen it before. What causes it exactly so I don't make that mistake?

[billythekidrock]

I have had them chip from boiling.

[Miles]

I have never had one chip from boiling, and have boiled 20+ skulls.   I'm not sure, maybe you guys are boiling them at a rolling boil for a long period of time?   

[kentrek]

I have never had one chip from boiling, and have boiled 20+ skulls.   I'm not sure, maybe you guys are boiling them at a rolling boil for a long period of time?

  20 + easily an nothing like that's happened....I don't use bleach tho

[Michelle_Nelson]

Not every skull that is boiled is going to chip.  A lot of the times it's what people put in the pot when they boil the skull.

[Dhoey07]

I think i would try super glue

[sirmissalot]

The chipping is from over heating the horns for en extended period of time. If you do it right and don't get it too hot it won't damage anything. There was a guy on here once that boiled a skull all day long while he was a work and he was concerned because the horns were falling apart.

[boneaddict]

Weird, I have never had one chip.