Ready to Whiten my skull. 27% peroxide ??'s

[Kanooper]

So I have a deer skull that is degreased, and now I am ready to whiten.  I picked up some Baquacil Oxidizer (BO) 27% Peroxide and have a couple questions.

1) What's the best way to soak the skull in peroxide and not get any on the antlers?  My thought was to use a Rubbermaid container just big enough for the skull and fill it up to about 1/2" below the antler burs and then put some paper towels on top of the skull that is not submerged and let the peroxide soak into the paper towels.  Are there any other ways I should consider?

2) How long should I let the skull soak in the peroxide?  I realize long enough till it's white, but can a skull sit in 27% peroxide too long?

3) Do you just let the skull air dry after you take it out of the peroxide.  Do I need to worry about what I lay the skull on after I take it out?

[clindsayrun]

Don't soak it... this is much easier with the same result.

Take baking soda or calcium carbonate and mix it with enough peroxide to make a paste. Maybe like a 2:1 ration. You can eyeball it. You want it thick enough to stick, but not so think that it starts to dry out before you're finished. Brush the paste on the skull nice and thick begin careful to cram it in all the holes, cracks and around the teeth.  Be careful not to get it on the antlers.  I wrap the base of my antlers up in saran wrap and electrical tape before I start.

After you brush the paste on you can either wrap it in saran wrap and set it aside or simply let it dry as is.

After a week or so you can rinse the skull off in the sink with cool water. If the skull is at the desired level of whiteness you're good to go. If not simply repeat.

This is a great way to whiten your skulls and doesn't use much peroxide. You'll save a bunch of that hard to obtain peroxide for the next skull. This method is also far superior to bleach.

Good luck

[cougkilr]

You can also use magnesium carbonate and your peroxide and do the same method as clindsayrun said, make a thick paste, put it all over the skull and let it dry, the directions say to at least let it dry for 24 hrs, the longer the better, when its dry just peel off the hard white stuff, it will come off in clumps and the rest you can just brush off or rinse.  You can order magnesium carbonate from Research Mannikins for pretty cheap, around $20 for 5 pounds and a little goes a long ways and when you order from them it comes within 1-3 days.

[Jason]

what my taxi does is he wraps paper towels around the bases underneath the burs and then puts the skull into the peroxide to the top of the skull, the paper towels soak up the peroxide and never gets on the burs.

[Michelle_Nelson]

I use Baquacil Oxidizer on all my skulls that I can.  I would lay paper towel on top of the head and wrap around the pedical under the antler bur.  It will act as a wic and pick up the peroxide.  Every 3 oe 4 hours I'd go ahead and pour some frsh BQ over the paper towel.  Just use the stuff in the container the skull is in.

I useally leave mine in for 12 hours.  Pull it out and let it soak in clean water for an hour.  Pull out and let dry.  Once dry if it isn't white enough I put it back in the B.O. for another 12 hours.

I suggest letting the skull dry out befor putting it in the B.O.

If you have aditional question feel free to post here or call me at the shop.  (360) 704 - 0034.

[bucklucky]

I used to paste mine but now I soak them, I think it does a nicer job and the whole skull gets whitened. It also takes the stench if there is any out of the skull.

[muleysgirl13]

what would happen if you buried them?  I used to do it with my ex's watusi cattle heads, the bacteria eats all the flesh and dirt off leave it in the ground for a couple weeks and then pull out and leave in the sun to bleach.  Would have liked to use the peroxide but could never get it.  But with the antlers would buring it have a bad result?

[Michelle_Nelson]

Well if you are not worried about something digging it up and chewing the face off your animal than bury it.  The Maceration and Beatles do a heck of a lot nicer job than any other method. 

I have been through a LOT of trial and error when it comes to cleaning skulls.  I use to experiment with extra skulls to find the best way for cleaning them

*I've boiled and simmered them
*buried them
*put them in a trash can with about 2 or 3 inches of water and let the maggots have at them
*I've used Beatles
*Macerated them

I've also use several different methods of whitening.  I've used 3% peroxide, 30 and 40 volume hair developer, and the 27% peroxide.

After 7 years of cleaning skulls I have come up with Maceration and 27% peroxide as one of the most effective and safest ways of cleaning skulls.  Beatles coming in a  close second.