When boiling a deer skull in salsoda, is it necessary to keep the base of the antlers out of the water? will this chemical stain or discolor the antlers? Thanks Ray
Return to Beginners Taxidermy Category Menu
Yes, keep the antler bases out of the sal soda, as it will remove the color from the antlers.
It has the potential to lighten the antlers. Any real discolouration other than that would come as a result of allowing the antlers to sit in scuzzy, bloody water. It's not going to harm the antlers if it splashes up on them or anything drastic like that - but any length of time spent in the solution *can* (not WILL) lighten them.
As a technical point - never boil your skulls.. use simmering water if you choose a hot water method - but don't allow it to boil - it puts too much stress on the skull.
Typing at the same time and yer quicker on the draw than I am ;)
Glen Conley explained what happens when salsoda gets above a certain temperature. For those who don't understand what he said, he said it begins to EAT THE BONES. Once you start, do NOT walk away from the pot.
Check the archives on this subject. Bill Yox and others told the way they do it without boiling and it saved me alot of time. Boiling makes the bones brittle as well as discoloring them.
Todd B