cleaning skulls

[komodo_28]

what do you mix peroxide with and how much do you use for whitening skulls?

[Colonel]

Depends on what % peroxide your using and for what application type.

Try using the search and be prepared to read awhile.

[cedarhill]

I have cleaned hundreds of skulls and what has worked well for me is I have used right off the shelf from the grocery store, I put it in a pot and heat it on the stove. Just heat it dont boil it will over flow and get everywhere but it seems to open the bone pores up and work real well. This has worked as well for me as mixing powders I hope this helps you. Cedar Hill

[craig_cougar03]

cederhill, what are you talking about getting right off the shelf at the store?  peroxide perhaps?  lol, just wondering, read your post and was kinda lost

[Sea Wolf]

     Heating peroxide, especially on a stove, is dangerous. Komodo, you do not mix peroxide with anything normally. Soak the skull in peroxide at room temperature for at least a day and it will work.

     Do as Colonel said and use the "SEARCH" window and do some research.

[tariadamar]

yes just stick it in as strong as solution as u can find. the wrmer it is the better so don't go sticking it out side if it is snowing as peroxide is heat sensitive however don't use a stove or a element in the peroxide as it reacts really well with metal.

[jasonfor01]

yes just stick it in as strong as solution as u can find. the wrmer it is the better so don't go sticking it out side if it is snowing as peroxide is heat sensitive however don't use a stove or a element in the peroxide as it reacts really well with metal.

I keep reading not to use peroxide with metal. Why is this? What does the peroxide do to the metal or vise versa? I have been using a turkey cooking pot (aluminum) with peroxide 40 and water on low heat and have had good results but I do not want to mess up if I have just been getting lucky. I tried a plastic bucket with peroxide 40 and let the skull set for two days at room temp and it did nothing.

[Northern Skulls]

This is what happens to a skull if the peroxide gets introduced with metal.  It makes a huge mess, and gets very hot. This buffalo must of had some bullet stil in the skull that was stuck and couldn't see.

[Colonel]

Wow What a jigsaw puzzle!!

[PLTannery]

Northern....I don't think that can be saved.... Nice way to make compost though...

I do believe it can also catch fire when mixed with metal.  The 3% at the store is not nearly as risk and I've had no problems with some metal tags that got in the mix but the 40vol stuff is NASTY. It will blind and Burn you if your not careful.

[Sea Wolf]

This post is back at the top. 3% is fine. Anything above that you are playing with fire. Seriously!!!!!!

   No metal with peroxide. PERIOD! And there is no reason to heat it in a pot. Jason, if you had a skull in peroxide for 2 days and it did "nothing" ... just what were you trying to do?

http://www.taxidermy.net/forum/index.php/topic,125556.0.html

[jasonfor01]

Sea Wolf,

OK you have scared the crap out of me with that picture  ! I think I am calling it the wrong stuff. What I am using is "Salon Care 40 Volume Clear Developer".

As far as what I was trying to do is whiten the skull.

I use MP's 5 hour skull method but instead of using a paste I use the Salon Care 40 Volume Clear Developer.

I place the skull up to the burrs in water and add the Salon Care 40 Volume Clear Developer then put a little heat to it and in about an hour it is white.

I use this method because I have a friend that is a beautition and she uses the Salon Care 40 Volume Clear Developer with foil wraps under heat to bleach hair, so I figured what the heck I will give that a try and I was pleased with the results. But I am always looking for better ways to things.

Any and all suggestions are welcomed and appreciated!

Here is a picture of the one I did this way.

[Sea Wolf]

   Seems like you have the right stuff. I have several bottles of it under the kitchen table still. What that is, is 12% peroxide and it's great stuff to use. The one for cuts is 3% and the Baquacil pool type stuff is 27%.

    I would NOT heat it. Making the paste, applying it, wrapping in Saran Wrap and putting it under a heat source is not the same as heating straight peroxide. I just wouldn't do it. Before I found the Baquacil I used plenty of the 40 VOL and still do.   I would use it straight without diluting it. You don't need to heat it and it will whiten overnight. It is also re-useable for quite some time. Apparently, it is somewhat safe with stainless steel, but, after reading that article, I wouldn't use it near any metal at all.

    It's a chemical. Just treat it with respect.

[jasonfor01]

Sea Wolf,

Thanks for the input! I do have a question though!

When I use the 40 in water I know that the liquid will get in all nooks and cranny's inside and out, how do you get the paste inside all the nasal and sinus cavities to make sure that everything will get "bleached"? Do you just glob it on and let it run down in all the inner cavities?


Thanks for your advice!!!!

[Sea Wolf]

   With the paste, you do the best you can. I only use it for big stuff that I can't get into a bucket or tub. I prefer to soak something over night, or at least 24 hours in it. I don't dilute it. Use it straight. By diluting it, you're just reducing the efficiency of it and increasing the time it takes to whiten anything. And the results may not be as good. If you are going to dilute the 40 VOL, you might as well just buy a bunch of bottles of the 3% stuff for cuts. I prefer to completely submerge something in it and soak it because it does get into all the nooks and crannies.