Hunting Washington Forum

Community => Taxidermy & Scoring => Topic started by: 724wd on November 26, 2012, 10:59:23 AM

Title: skull whitening
Post by: 724wd on November 26, 2012, 10:59:23 AM: is there a way to whiten a skull that has been stained by ground contact for many years?
Title: Re: skull whitening
Post by: Band on November 27, 2012, 09:28:50 AM: White spray paint. That's what I used about 10 years ago to make a skull look fresh when I wanted to make a pencil holder out of it. Still have it on my desk and it looks great.
Title: Re: skull whitening
Post by: sirmissalot on November 27, 2012, 11:26:31 AM: Lets see a picture of it. Is it deer?
Title: Re: skull whitening
Post by: Special T on November 27, 2012, 11:33:00 AM: Have you tried Hydrogen Peroxide?
We used it on skulls. We took a gallon jug like antifreeze, and rinsed it out and cut the side out. we put the skull in the jug layed on its ide and then wetted down paper towls with peroxide and filled the jug part way up. the paper towl wicked the peroxide up to keep it wet. We would rotate different skulls into out of the pot so that they woudl whiten dry.
Title: Re: skull whitening
Post by: Skyvalhunter on November 27, 2012, 11:48:00 AM: Go to a hair salon supply story and purchase their whitening paste. You mix the two substances together brush it on the skull and wala white skull. Used it many times on my european mounts.
Title: Re: skull whitening
Post by: 724wd on November 27, 2012, 02:36:30 PM: it's not a deer :) just a skull i found that has been on the ground for years :tup:

thanks for the tips fellas! :tup:
Title: skull whitening
Post by: sirmissalot on November 27, 2012, 06:07:41 PM: I would try degreasing it first. You'd be amazed at what a couple weeks in 115-120 degree water with some dawn dish soap will do. Then do your whitening paste or peroxide.
Title: Re: skull whitening
Post by: 724wd on November 27, 2012, 09:54:10 PM: this skull appears to have been in ground contact for at least 3 years, if not longer. it is very dry at this point (found it 2.5 years ago), though the lower jaws are stained dark and there is a bit of moss growing on it. was thinking about whitening it, but maybe it's better as found? better story that way? :dunno:
Title: Re: skull whitening
Post by: Alpinist on November 28, 2012, 11:01:37 PM: Iron Out works well for removing mineral stains from skulls. Use 1/3 cup of Iron Out to a gallon of warm water. You can soak the skull for an hour or more without damaging it (I've soaked skulls for as long as 4 hours). Rinse thoroughly with warm water.

I agree that a naturally stained skull is more interesting.
Title: Re: skull whitening
Post by: MuleyJam on December 12, 2012, 01:06:13 PM: Quote from: Skyvalhunter on November 27, 2012, 11:48:00 AM
Go to a hair salon supply story and purchase their whitening paste. You mix the two substances together brush it on the skull and wala white skull. Used it many times on my european mounts.
:yeah: :yeah: This is the way to go put the paste on wrap skull is saran wrap then put by direct heat to activate the bleach... Don't get it on the antlers...
Title: Re: skull whitening
Post by: MtnMuley on December 12, 2012, 02:01:47 PM: Go to the salon and get 40 volume peroxide. Pour it in a bowl. Take TP and white papertowels and saturate them in the peroxide and poke in every hole and all around the skull. Take a black garbage bag and tightly wrap around the entire skull ( not horns), and wrap with electrical tape. Let it sit for 2 full days, then unwrap it and place it in the sunlight to dry. Done this with several dozen, and they turn out near perfect every time. :twocents: