Submitted by Rocky Yoder on 1/28/1999. ( frmlrzy@ibm.net )
I have a couple of buffalo skulls, cleaned, but not preserved yet.
Could you please help me with what to do? One skull was killed at a
locker so it has a hole in his head. Both have horn caps, not sure
what to do with them either.(?)
Thanks,
Rocky
This response submitted by Dale C. on 2/1/1999. ( fullstrut2@hotmail.com )
Hey Rocky,
Ive only been doing this for a couple of years now but I have done alot of deer skulls.The buffalo skulls you mention are cleaned? I assume you meaned fleshed that is you boiled them. If not you need to do that first. As large as they are be careful!!! Most all of the meat will come off very easy. After that wash it and let dry . This brings me to the next question.You said they both have caps. I always thought that caps,ment the horns have been removed from the skull on a skull plate.If this is what you mean and you want to mount the skulls whole then they need reattached.I have never hed to do that before but Im sure ther is a way. If they are all together than the next step would be to soak them in 3% hydrogen peroxide for a least a couple days. This will bleach them white and does a nice job.Be carefull not to let the horns themselfs soak in the solution cause it will bleach them to.Just keep checking them to tell how long to leave them in there.As for the hole, depending on how bad it is can be fixed with some apoxie sculpt.I have had luck with putting regular window screen behind the hole for backing ( hot glue or clay will stick) and filling the hole with the sculpt smooth and sand and presto. Ive rambled on long enough I hope this helps you. Dale C.
This response submitted by Steve Beckley on 2/17/1999. ( wtstudio@hotmail.com )
Hi, I did two Buffalo skulls this year.My firts time so i know what your
going through. First i boiled them.Then i took them to the car wash.
I got a lot of strange looks when doing this,But it realy cleans them
up nice.Also by putting the preasure washer just under the caps it will
hopefully losen the caps. Then i use calcium carbonate mixed with 35
percent hydrogen peroxide,Mix into like a paste, then paint on and let dry.Then
just wipe it off or wash it off. About the holes. One that i did had
two bullet holes in it, one of the bullets riped off one side of the top
teeth and damaged lots of bone there. Im planning to leave the entrey hole alone
and just use Fin-Flex to repair the teeth and put a protective coat
over the entire skull.
hope this helps you.
If the caps aren't attached to the cores then you can "sweat" them off by placing the skull in hot water over night. Or you can try boiling on very low heat, but, soaking them should do the trick, if they don't come off don't worry just soak them longer.
When you get them off make sure to wash them out real well inside. take a lighter to burn off any stray hairs that are left.
Once the caps are removed, just put the skull in some sort of peroxide such as the ones suggested elsewhere in the forums. It would be best if you bought some kind of weak floor wax and dilute it with water and submerge the skull in it, let it dry, this will put a nice soft satin luster on the skull. Do the same for the caps after you wash them out thouroughly.
If you have anymore questions feel free to E-Mail.
Good luck.
Dilute the floor wax with water about 40/60 (40 wax/60 water)> also, Nevermind about pouring the wax inside the caps, Just spray alot of clear spray paint inside, then lightly coat the outside of the caps.