Maceration Step by Step

[Wolfwoman]

Thanks He is a MacKenzie River Husky and dad to the rest of the pack. The lab in the middle pic is the mom They're all brats!

[Helicity]

mine are brats too

But on to skulls....if i add a bit of ammonia to the maceration will that speed it up a bit? Its gogin pretty slow expecailly one skull. It has some hard stuk on stuff i can't get off. I also thought the ammonia may keep the algae down a bit because i have to change my water every 3 days because the tubs are completly full of gross algea. Maybe its just our well water and how soft and mineralized it is.

[Codi]

Helicity are your tubs in the sunlight? Sun makes algea grow. Just wondering.

[Sea Wolf]

*sigh* .. I want one of Dakotas puppies. A wolfy one .. not a labish type. 

[Wolfwoman]

Bring me a female I'm sure he'd comply.... well, maybe! There's a white female husky that a guy has here that I want to breed him to and get more Dakota looking pups....lol

[Helicity]

should i have them covered? I have them open to blow the smell into the field and allow sun to heat the water. I do nto have a heater in them.

[Snowwolf]

I agree! Dakota is a beautiful dog. I'd love to have one like him.

Another question...what about skulls that get weakened by the maceration process? Should I work on reinforcing any weakness with glue, and then seal it? That dark dog skull that I had been macerating, is now nearly falling apart. It still has not gone through the peroxide, because I'm afraid of it falling apart. No pieces have fallen off yet, but there are weak pieces that move very easily with a tiny touch. The skull is not in water, anymore. It's hanging from the porch, where lots of sunlight will hit it. The sunlight is actually doing a nice job of lightening it a bit! I can't wait until it's been a couple of weeks so I can post that before photo, then an after one. I'm just worried about it falling to pieces. I'm sure I could reconstruct it...but, I had to ask first. I'm curious if the glue will hold it well enough so I can put it on display. I think it's going to look fairly decent. Can I put it in peroxide after the two weeks of sunlight, even in its weak state? Should I just keep an eye on it in there, or will the peroxide harm it?

I'm sorry for all the questions! This is something I haven't had happen before; skulls getting weak. *worryworry*

[Oráiste]

should i have them covered? I have them open to blow the smell into the field and allow sun to heat the water. I do nto have a heater in them.

Yeah, it would be better to cover them as the sun is what is feeding the algæ. You could cover with a black bin liner if you don't have a lid for your tub/bucket or whatever you are using. The warmth from the sun will still penetrate it and generated warmth from the bacteria will also stay in there and build up. Good luck!

[Wolfwoman]

Snowwolf, let it dry and then peroxide it, the bones should tighten back up enough to have a 2 day peroxide bath. Usually I dip my finished skulls in 50/50 elmer's glue and water, that usually takes care of anything loose.

[bigbuck07]

ok i have a question about sum skulls lol wat will take out white acrylic paint with out damaging the skulls. its takin longer than i thought it would just by scraping it off and would like and easier alternitave

[Snowwolf]

Thanks, Wolfwoman. I'm not sure how long it'll take a skull to dry in 100+ F weather every day, but I'm going to listen to what you and Sea Wolf said about letting the sun take care of it for a couple of weeks. In just three days, I can already see a world of difference! Creepy Suzie isn't so creepy, anymore. I really enjoy and appreciate how helpful you all are.

[Wolfwoman]

Most welcome   It will dry QUICKLY...lol  She loves you! LOLOL!!!

[Snowwolf]

Me? ...who loves me? Suzie? *scared* *slowly sneaks away* lol!

[Helicity]

I will try the garbage bags next time i change the water....when i degrease and keep it covered the soap should keep any bacteria and algea down right?

[skullcollecter]

any chance that the grizzly skull wil be for sale after it is cleaned? As i would be interested to buy it.