I made a real big mistake and bleached a set of antlers when cleaning the skull, I walked away from the boiling pot and the horns fell in and I of course was busy doing something else and forgot what I was doing and they are now white. My question, is, is there any thing I can use to put the color back in the horns, or have I just wasted a awesome set of horns.....Please help me....Thanks
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You can use stain, paint or patassium permanangate. In the future - dont boil your skulls or plates and you won't have this problem. It will also avoid problems of damaged bone at the same time =)
Good luck =)
I dont either, but if you still do, dont put bleach in there!
WHY in the world would anyone put bleach in boiling water to begin with?
He probably used Sal Soda. That can rob antlers of colour. 'Bleaching, though most commonly refers to chlorinated bleach doesn't necesarily have to. Peroxide for example is an oxygen bleaching agent. Now I'm giving him the benefit of the doubt here and am assuming he didn't dump a cup of Javex or something in his stock pot. If he did.. well... I'm with you guys.. WHY?
Theres so many ideas, opinions and techniques flying around, Im really not surprised by anything thats put into some of our witches brew. I just wish we could be more firm in our opinions based on time, without being called "so called gods" etc, for stating so. Maybe this stuff wouldnt happen as often. Funny thing though, how the goofs that call us those names seldom offer a guy like this any help. Thanks Raven for the advice here.
I couldn't help but laugh as I KNOW you didn't mean boiling it in peroxide as peroxide would immediately become water if boiled, but your point is well taken. As Bill said (AND I'M GUILTY OF IT IN YEARS PAST) boiling should be the very last of the last options people use in cleaning skulls. Bad things that you have little control over are the most common things happening during this method.
Thanks for the reply's, what I did was boil Sal Soda and basically I did not prop the antlers right and they fell in the pot and changed the color of the horns a dingy white...I was working on another project and forgot about the horns....This want happen again if I can help it...LOL...
Raven or anyone do you have a suggestion on what colors I would use to get them back to looking great?
I Appreciate any help....
Jim
Since you have a fresh set of antlers you might not need to seal your antlers but I like to, in order to ensure even coloring. I use Krylon Matt Finish topcoat - Next I determine if the antlers need a soft coating of flat white to even the color, then I use Minwax stain Provincial (211) but I apply it as though I'm sponging a wall not just wiping it on. Next I might use Dark Walnut but with this I will dry sponge just to high light some of the deeper recesses I also will use my airbrush with burnt umber. To get a good blend take 000 steel wool and lightly rub over your coloring once it has dried
With a little practice you can do a very convincing job
Good Luck
KJ
Thanks for the information, I will try it