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Community => Taxidermy & Scoring => Topic started by: Damnimissed on February 16, 2014, 09:50:17 PM


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Title: Skull whitening issues
Post by: Damnimissed on February 16, 2014, 09:50:17 PM
So, I finally got around to whitening my Rosie and blacktail skulls today. After researching a bit, I decided to go with the 40 volume developer (the kind that is already thickened). I put on a good coat and 8 hours later...nothing. I thought its gotta work, since it made my fingers white where I got it on me, but both skulls look just like they did before. What the hell am I doing wrong?
Title: Re: Skull whitening issues
Post by: tjthebest on February 16, 2014, 09:55:16 PM
Heat and/or sun! 8)
Title: Re: Skull whitening issues
Post by: Bean Counter on February 16, 2014, 09:57:13 PM
did you already degrease? you need to do that before whitening.
Title: Re: Skull whitening issues
Post by: Damnimissed on February 16, 2014, 10:00:09 PM
Yeah, they sat in a bucket with a ton of dawn for a couple weeks.
Should I wait til a sunny day and do it all over again, or is that gonna damage them?
Title: Re: Skull whitening issues
Post by: bugs n bones on February 17, 2014, 05:13:37 AM
There still full of grease, more time degreasing
Title: Re: Skull whitening issues
Post by: sirmissalot on February 17, 2014, 07:15:57 AM
Yeah you need to degrease. Add heat to your dawn/water solution if you haven't already.


Title: Re: Skull whitening issues
Post by: blindluck on February 17, 2014, 10:32:07 AM
When I first tried the 40 vol developer I submerged the skull for two days and nothing, then I bought the bleach powder to mix with it (basic white) and it worked really good, done in six hours. Someone else was saying just the developer alone is all you need but It didn't do a thing for me. I also read on line it doesn't work alone and that it needs the powder either to activate and or work in conjunction. I painted some developer on an antler and it didn't bleach the color like the combination of the two does or peroxide will.
Title: Re: Skull whitening issues
Post by: Damnimissed on February 17, 2014, 01:20:01 PM
Ok, so I guess I'll degrease for a couple more weeks, if it will still work after sitting in my garage for a couple months, dry.
What's a good ratio for basic white to developer? Or do you guys just eyeball it?
Title: Re: Skull whitening issues
Post by: Karl Blanchard on February 17, 2014, 02:01:42 PM
I have always finished my heads with about an hour simmer in a fresh peroxide/water bath.  They come out so white I don't usually bother doing any further treatment.  Might give it a try to help degrease.  Just my personal opinion but they look pretty awesome the way they are :tup:
Title: Re: Skull whitening issues
Post by: blindluck on February 17, 2014, 04:48:42 PM
Ok, so I guess I'll degrease for a couple more weeks, if it will still work after sitting in my garage for a couple months, dry.
What's a good ratio for basic white to developer? Or do you guys just eyeball it?
degrease in dawn and water 115-120 deg. Once degreased mix your developer and basic white to a sour cream consistency paint on let dry several hours rinse off, let dry should be good ,if not satisfied repeat one more time .
Title: Re: Skull whitening issues
Post by: Damnimissed on February 17, 2014, 05:18:04 PM
Hey, thanks for the input guys. I'll give it another shot, and hopefully get some results.
Title: Re: Skull whitening issues
Post by: andersonjk4 on February 17, 2014, 05:22:01 PM
Like said before, get some Basic White powder and mix it with the developer.  It should give you a mixture on the jug of Basic White.  I usually paint it on real thick and then wrap all in cling wrap and let it sit a couple days.  The mixture will keep working as long as it is still moist, so the plastic wrap will keep it moist longer, so you can get more active whitening.

Here is a skull I just did a couple weeks ago.   
Title: Re: Skull whitening issues
Post by: blindluck on February 17, 2014, 08:46:34 PM
That's a beauty
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