Hydrogen peroxide

[Thermal Predator Control]

Peroxide takes forever. I did this deer for a buddy in under 8 hours

[andersonjk4]

What is your guy's DIY euro process?

I have beetles now to clean the skulls, but before that I would macerate to clean the skulls. In my opinion these are the best ways to clean the skulls and maintain the integrity of the bone long term.

Next is degreasing. For deer I use a five gallon bucket and submerge the skull in a water/dawn dish soap solution (about a 1/4 cup per 5 gallons) and heat the water with a fish tank heater. Change the water every few days or weeks depending on when you remember. Keep repeating this until the water stays clear for several days which should mean the skull is sufficiently degreased. The grease coming out will form a layer on the top of the water or turn the water cloudy. You can also use a solution of water and ammonia instead of dish soap. During the degreasing process is a good time to scrape and pick off any little remaining bits that might have gotten missed when cleaning the skull.

After degreasing let the skull dry and then whiten using hydrogen peroxide. As discussed in this thread you can use several different methods. The two main processes are either submerging the skull in a liquid form of peroxide, or making a paste and coating the skull. Either way the stronger the peroxide solution the quicker the skull will whiten. I have typically used the gel type 40 Volume (13% peroxide) Salon developer and made a paste with that and the powdered lightener (Basic White). Paint this on the skull all over then wrap with basic plastic wrap and let it sit for a day or so. Rinse and repeat hitting any areas you may have missed. Letting the skull dry in the direct sunlight is best. The other method posted by the OP uses a liquid form of hydrogen peroxide and you simply submerge the skull for as long as it takes to get the desired level of whiteness.

Hopefully others will chime in with other methods and tips.

[Fletch]

I use beetles now as well (occasionally the simmer/scrape method when beetles aren't usable) degrease, and use 27% liquid peroxide.  I put my skull in a plastic garbage bag and set it in the bottom of a container.  I add some peroxide to the inside of the bag and put water in container outside of bag. The water pushes up the peroxide so I use a lot less volume of peroxide.  Just have to be very careful of foam ups and bottom of horns. 

[ridgefire]

I have always bought my stuff from Sally's beauty store. I have always just cleaned the skull with hot/ boiling water and then the same process with dish soap. Let dry thoroughly and then wrap the base of antler with tinfoil and then spray or rub the peroxide on the skull until you get the desired whiteness. I let the peroxide dry between each coat.

[fowl smacker]

I have always bought my stuff from Sally's beauty store. I have always just cleaned the skull with hot/ boiling water and then the same process with dish soap. Let dry thoroughly and then wrap the base of antler with tinfoil and then spray or rub the peroxide on the skull until you get the desired whiteness. I let the peroxide dry between each coat.

Yep, you get an even quicker response if you add heat.  (My mom was a hair dresser for 30 years, I know all the tricks).  Wrap it in a garbage bag after applying your solution and blow some hot air in with a heat gun or your wife's hair dryer without her knowing

[270]

I usually just bury them and rinse with water once I pull them out of the ground. Then I just spray a little bleach on the skull and leave it out in the sun. Turns out ok,  but could be better.  I will try peroxide this time.  Thank you for the responses.

[washingtonmuley]

I usually just bury them and rinse with water once I pull them out of the ground. Then I just spray a little bleach on the skull and leave it out in the sun. Turns out ok,  but could be better.  I will try peroxide this time.  Thank you for the responses.

Definitely try peroxide as bleach will yellow the skull.

[CoryTDF]

Peroxide takes forever. I did this deer for a buddy in under 8 hours

And it looks like it. No offence but this is not a quality Euro mount. The skull is not degreased nor is it bleached. It will show Oil and yellow spots in the near future.

[boneaddict]

I use beetles now as well (occasionally the simmer/scrape method when beetles aren't usable) degrease, and use 27% liquid peroxide.  I put my skull in a plastic garbage bag and set it in the bottom of a container.  I add some peroxide to the inside of the bag and put water in container outside of bag. The water pushes up the peroxide so I use a lot less volume of peroxide.  Just have to be very careful of foam ups and bottom of horns.

You always were kind of an ingenious *censored*.
Cool idea


 

[CoryTDF]

This is how I do it and I have had great success.

Bugs are the best way to save all the small bones but I dont have them. I had a pretty cool hook-up in the past but it is no longer in effect. So what is a guy to do?

1)Clean the skull as well as you can before you boil it.

2) Boil the skull just long enough to get the meat soft.

3) Use a pressure washer (with hot water if possible) and blow off the meat, fat and whatever else.

4) Tape the horns and soak in a tote with ammonia, peroxide, water to cover and blue dawn dish detergent. Also, tip I learned last year, use a fish tank heater and aerator pump. Try to get to 90 degrees or so and soak until fat and grease no longer film up on top. This can take a while and with a few fluid changes. 

5) Wash the skull with soap and rinse in hot water. Paint a mixture of high percentage peroxide mixed with magnesium powder. Should look like mayonnaise. if you cant find that just use the salon products talked about in other posts.

6) Rinse off after it dries and you are all set. You now have a fully degreased and bleached white skull that should look great for years to come without oily grease leaking out of the bone.

This is just my method and it has worked well for me. There are about 365465465431348436542 different ways to do this but this is the best that i have found. Sure it takes a bit of time but the final product is awesome!

[Antlershed]

Here’s a stupid question...

I’m doing my own euro for the first time right now, and working on the maceration phase. Once I get thru degreasing and onto the whitening....I have a bottle of 40 volume cream peroxide developer. Is that alone a whitening agent, or do I HAVE to mix something else in with it like a couple of you have mentioned? Thanks.

[CoryTDF]

Here’s a stupid question...

I’m doing my own euro for the first time right now, and working on the maceration phase. Once I get thru degreasing and onto the whitening....I have a bottle of 40 volume cream peroxide developer. Is that alone a whitening agent, or do I HAVE to mix something else in with it like a couple of you have mentioned? Thanks.

That should work. Mixing it just helps to firm it up and allow it to cover all areas. I am looking into doing something like this very soon. https://www.taxidermy.net/threads/136324/

[cbond3318]

Deer:
Skin, scrape, ( I cut the back of my skulls off so it hangs better and the brains pull without scrambling, simmer submerged 1.5 hrs with 1/2 cup of Dawn added, pressure wash with 2500 psi oscillating tip. Check for any cartilage to scrape, simmer 30 minutes , pressure wash again, let dry, hang on wall. Easy peasy.

I don’t care to protect all the small bones I blast out everything in the nasal cavity. I don’t care for a bleach white skull either, looks unnatural and hoakie to me. I don’t get any yellowing and this way looks better to me , all those bone plate lines are so cool looking when still defined by darker shades of “bone”

[Oh Mah]

can you reuse the liquid peroxide?

[CoryTDF]

can you reuse the liquid peroxide?

Maybe a few times but light has a negative effect on it and it does have a lifespan.