Skull Brightening

[littletoes]

OK, got my Son's buck-skull all cleaned up, and i want to bleach it, but everyone tells me to use the off-the-shelf peroxide, and all I've got is the 40% stuff from the hair store...

Anyone know the "safe" way to do this? Just paint it on, or can it be diluted with water???

[Fesup]

I did an elk skull I used the  hair peroxide used a paint brush got it in there real good. then wrapped it in newspaper placed more on the newspaper. making sure not to get any on the horns at all. I then wrapped it in a black garbage plastic bag. taped it around the horns base so none dripped out onto them. let it sit. after a couple days removed it all washed it real good then mixed up elmers white glue with water to a runny paste. again used a brush to fill and coat the entire skull. this not only gives the skull a nice white look but fills some of the Small cracks. I then stained the Horns and placed them on a maple mount. they turned out real nice my wife even let me hang it in the living room Ha!

[Michelle_Nelson]

I wouldn't use the Elmer's glue.  Just go buy some Matte Clear Coat.  Once the skull is good and dry spray on a couple layers.  Let it dry between coats!

As for the 40% Peroxide.  Where did you guys find it.  I went in to a shop and they looked at me like I was stupid when I asked for it!  Well I guess they looked at me stupid twice what I told them what it was for!

[littletoes]

Woman's beuty supply store, they use it to bleach hair out, and its only about $3 for a bottle.

Hey Fesup, what did the skull look like after the peroxice by itself???

Michelle, I wasn't sure if I want to do the clear coat or not. Seen 'em both ways though.

[Coasthunterjay]

skull whitening.....well this is what i did for my deer this year because im saving up to get it taxi'd i decided to whiten it for now. i got i think a 10-20% solution from the store and got a disposable turkey pan. i used all of the peroxide in with the water. and the pan needs to be big enough to put my skull in and then i put some wire around it to support it so that the most would be under water. I then filled it up with water just about up to the bottom of the horns. you want to make sure that none of the horns touches or gets in contact in any way with the peroxide. DONT LET THE SOLUTION TOUCH THE HORNS. I then took the remaining unsoaked parts of the skull and covered them with papertowls. i cut them in long skinny pieces wrapped them all around the underneath of the antlers and then so on and so on. after that i let it soak for about a day and overnight stirring the solution every hour or so with a spoon making sure not to splash any and then using the spoon to pour on the paper towls that are on the top of the skull.
after i let it soak i pulled it out brought it into my bathtub carefully rinsed it out and then hung it up and let it dry.
now when you let it dry you want to make sure you put it in a sunny spot. now i live on the shady side of the lake so most my direct sunlight is blocked by the Mountains so i just took my saltwater lights pulled them off the aquarium and let them shine the crap out of it.

i think overall it looks very well. i didnt use elmers because i think the little cracks and what not look cool. ill post some pics later.oh and with the clear coat i would recommend getting a more expensive clear coat maybe something from an art store. they have all types of finishes that you can pick for your choosing. i again will not spray mine either................AJ

[boneaddict]

I don't like the clear coat look, but I knwo many do.

[Fesup]

ya the peroxide worked good I too got it at a hair supply store. the peroxide makes the skull realy white but the small bones I found became brittle thats why I used the glue mix and it hasnt faded or turned yellow in over two years.

[littletoes]

OK, everything I've heard or read says "Put it in the sun for a day or two..." I don't know if anybody relizes it, but I doubt that we will see the sun around here for quite a while...

Anybody have any other ideas?

[PolarBear]

Go to a beauty supply and ask for creamy 40 volume peroxide and Clairol Basic White 2.  I am getting ready to bleach my bucks from last year and this year.  I will take some pics of the process for reference purposes and post them sometime this week.  I am also going to restore the color on last years buck.  I'll take pics of that process as well.

[Michelle_Nelson]

Well went for attempt #2 yesterday.  Went into another beauty supply store and asked for the 40% peroxide and got 1/2 dozen funny looks when I told them what I was going to do with the stuff.

Anyway, what are you guys specifically asking for when you go to the beauty stores?  They keep saying something about volumizer or something.  Also mixing 2 things together.

[boneaddict]

Obviously Polarbear has better connections than you do. That, or knows how to deal with difficult women better

[billythekidrock]

Of course he does...he's a man.

[PolarBear]

D-oh!
Ok, here is the stuff that I use.  My wife owns a hair salon so I can get the stuff pretty easily.  Michelle, you need to go into a place where they speak english to start. I can hook you up if you need any.  I find that the 40 volume in the cream stays moist longer and you get a better bleach than with regular 40 vol.  Just remember, when the stuff dries out and becomes flaky, it is done working.  It has to stay damp to do its job.

[boneaddict]

Is that this years?   NICE!   I love those dark antlers.  I only saw one with dark bones this year.  He was a dandy and didn't want to hang for a photo shoot.  That turned out awesome.

[Skyvalhunter]

If not natural possible stain and most certainly verathane on antlers

[littletoes]

Got this at Sally's Beauty Supply.

[Michelle_Nelson]

Yeah thats what they were talking about.  I was told to ask for peroxide.  So I thought I was looking for a clear liquid!  OK now I got to find a Beauty Supply shop that sells it!  Thanks Guys 

[PolarBear]

Littletoes, that will work juuuust right!  Now get some BW 2 and you've got 'er whipped.
Bone, thanks!  That buck is from my usual stomping grounds.  I shoved an arrow in him a half dozen years ago or so. He just hangs around my shop now.   I am almost done with this years Tacoma Creek dink.  I'll post a pic when it is dry.  Yep, I usually spray a clear coat on all my heads in order to seal and keep dust & junk from getting into the pores and discoloring them.  It also makes it easier to blow the dust off of them.  If you dont like the shine, rough it up with a scotch-brite pad to dull it up a bit.  

[billythekidrock]

If you dont like the shine, rough it up with a scotch-brite pad to dull it up a bit. 

I used to hate the shine when the taxi would coat them, but over time I got to thinkin that it looks like the buck has been rained on...which was my fav time to hunt them.

[M_ray]

Michelle, My wife is a National Sales Manager for a Italian hair care Company, She tells me you can go into Sally's or Karen's in Olympia and ask for 40 volume cream peroxide. It is also known as developer also a dry powdered bleach, mix the two together into a paste (this is easy to control) and paint it on leave it until the desired whiteness and rinse it off! I only leave mine on over night and I don't get Fancy with bags or anything I just leave it out 1 night.


I am with Boneaddict on this one too I don't spry my skulls I like the natural look.


You do have to be careful where you put the mix as it will turn the brown white if you get it above the crowns, I use 2 1/2 " shrink wrap and wrap them up as high as I can to protect them ... leave it on until you are through rinsing.

I also do not like to brush anything on them I personally like to see all the natural imperfections and squiggly lines ... just personal preference.

[Michelle_Nelson]

   Alright I went to Sally's and the lady their actually knew what I was talking about when I asked for the 40 Vloume Developer.     I am still 3 for 3 on the funny looks when I told her what it was for.

Alright here is the deal.  The bear skull I am going to use this on have already been in the 3% peroxide for 3 days and it has done nothing to the orange/yellow blotches on either side of the bears face where the Bullet went though and embeded inside the roof of the mouth.

I Know what the blotches are and I am pretty sure it was cause from trauma due to the bullet.  Ya think this Developer will get this to turn white?


If I put the developer on the skull can I wash it off after 24 hours and re-apply it if it's not white enough? 

I've done tons of deer skulls in the past.  Never had any of my customers want a bear skull cleaned.
 

[M_ray]

Michelle , Yes if you do not get the desired whiteness you can re-apply as many times as it takes. Did you also get the dry powdered bleach? you need to mix them together into a paste and brush it on Sally's also has the mixing bowls and the brushes allthough I use the plain wooden handled throw aways you get at the hardware store.

[Washington M]

Cabela's has a skull bleaching kit, just ordered it for a bear skull, I'll let you know how it works, really cheap and seems like it has it all, even has an epoxy to keep the teeth set.

[archery288]

ordered the cabelas kit myself a few years back... they own van dikes taxidermy if I am not mistaken??!! (michelle you can probably answer that) anyways, I went to a salon and got bleach and stuff a while back before even reading this post and it worked great! not sure what stuff I purchased, but it worked and my bear skulls look awesome! I will have to post some pics after I get down to my dads next to take some!

[Michelle_Nelson]

Yes Cabelas owens VanDykes Taxidermy Supply.  I beleive they also own Van Dykes Studios as well.  That is why I couldn't get a job at a Cabelas store if I wanted to.  I've heard that they do taxidermy work for the public but I don't have any details on that.  The last I heard was their turn around was 5 years or something rediculous like that.  I don't know if that is true or not.   

[Michelle_Nelson]

Yes I got the powdered bleach also.  Going to mix it up and put it on tonight.

Do I put the paste on a dry or wet skull?

[archery288]

well that sucks! and 5 years turn around??!! there is no way I'd ever wait that long to have a mount done! thats just ridiculous! and I bet they are through the roof??!

[Michelle_Nelson]

This is all hearsay.  I don't know if they do public taxidermy or not.  I have heard it from about a dozen people that they do!  I have heard from atleast 2 or 3 people that their turn around is between 2.5 and 5 years. 

I have looked on the internet several times to see if cabelas has a taxidermy studio and offers to do work for the public but I can't find anything on the subject.  I did see that they do sell mounted animals.  I think the Bison Head I saw was going for something like 1,699.00 = shipping.   

[Michelle_Nelson]

OK, I got the bear skull all painted up.  I guess I should have asked.  How much of this stuff do I need to put on a 9 1/2 inch bear skull.  Just paint it on or do I need to glop it on their pretty thick.  I think I used between 3/4 and 1 cup of the stuff.  Put all of it on their and put it inside a 2 gallon ziplock bag.  So far so good?

[M_ray]

Do I put the paste on a dry or wet skull?

Michelle,
preferably dry I put mine on dry not sure what happens if anything when put on wet? the only thing I can think of since the mix is a bit wet anyway would Be that it may dilute it some.

[M_ray]

I put mine on fairly thick or as thick as I could get it maybe 1/4" or so and I am not sure about the bag I never do that I just left mine out in the open air. Did you tape off or wrap the bases of the horns in some way to protect them?

[Michelle_Nelson]

  Bears don't have horns.

I didn't put it on that thick.  I only bought 1 pack of that powdered bleach and used all of it.  May go pick some more up tomarrow and put some more on.

[M_ray]

Sorry I'm a geezer ... got caught up in the moment thinking of mine and forgot to review posts to see what you were brightening ... Sorry!

[Skyvalhunter]

 Bears don't have horns.

 

[garyrnr]

Hope someones still around to reply, I have heard of people just soaking the skull submerged in strait 40 volume for 12 hours. I am getting ready to do my bear skull and a porcupine. I was glad to find this info.Do you think the powder bleach is necessary,or is it just to allow you to brush it on and reduce the amount of 40 volume that would be needed to submerge a skull?

[Michelle_Nelson]

I tried the 40 volume stuff once.  I didn't care for it.  I soak all my skulls in either 27% or 30% peroxide.

[PolarBear]

I'm using 50 volume now but still haven't got any of the 60-65 stuff that Michelle was talking about.  I found that if you soak the skull in hot water for fifteen minutes or so, let it dry for a minuter and put the mix on while the skull is still hot that it seems to soak in a little better.  
Michelle, do you actually submerge the skull in the stuff or just paint it on? 

[Michelle_Nelson]

I submerge it.  You can also mix it with Magnesium Carbonate and make the 27% & 30% liquid peroxide into a paste.

The 50 volume Hair developer is only 15% peroxide.  10 Volume starts at 3% for each 10 Volume you go up the peroxide volume increases by 3%.  So 20 Volume would be 6%, 30 Volume would be 9%, etc, etc.

You have it right on wetting up the skull a bit before adding the hair developer but you don't want it to be soaked.  Wrapping it up in plastic wrap and placing it in a warm room or by a heater (keep it rotated and not to close) will aid in the whitening.

If you paint it on and allow it to dry, once it is dry, it is done working unless you wet it back up.