That bright from just soaking and amonia? Looks good! Did the antlers lighten up a bit? They look darker in the first pic. Hopefully not a stupid question, but did you skin the head before you let it soak the first time? I hope to do this "if" I ever kill a buck!
That bright from just soaking and amonia? Looks good! Did the antlers lighten up a bit? They look darker in the first pic. Hopefully not a stupid question, but did you skin the head before you let it soak the first time? I hope to do this "if" I ever kill a buck!
Ammonia is used in the degreasing stage. The bone is full of grease, oil, and fats that have to be leached out. Ammonia is supposed to help, but I didn't find it did any more than good ole fashioned soap and water did, with a splash of Wal mart degreaser. The antlers bleached out due to operator error. I had the skull propped up in the degreasing stage with the antlers out, but my wife decided to move the bucket, not knowing it was one of my redneck concoctions scientifically placed in there. Just needed a dab of good ole MinWax to recolor. Once its degreased completely, then you have to whiten it. Can't give away all the trade secrets....
They look much darker in the first pic above because they were wet. if you look at the pic I took when I shot him, its almost a perfect match now after re-staining. I did hit them with a piece of steel wool after I snapped these pics to knock the sheen off
To answer your question...No I did not skin the head out. No need to. Nothing is sped up by skinning them out. Maceration is a bacterial deal, more than a rotting deal. The more bacteria, the better. You will truthfully be surprised how all the gunk breaks down to almost nothing if done right. Just cut the head off, toss in a container, fill with water, and forget it for a while
Looks good Allen. :toast I decided to give it a try myself. I donated a cooler to the cause and have a gator skull soaking for the last 2 weeks now.
Dang Allen, I really need to get my bear skull to you,that looks great. My stepdad made me a table top display plaque for it,just need to get it done now.Awsome job :rockon
I thought you gave up on me :pinch
I'm ready to do that skull when you are
Doug, don't rush that gator. Haven't personally done one, but heard they are full of grease and take quite a while.
Now it is cooler out and I don't have the hot sunshine to heat the water, I bought an aquarium heater. Got this one at Pet Supermarket for like $15.99
http://www.petsupermarket.com/Products/PetSupermarket/PID-301703467.aspx
