Maybe Raven or someone else can help me with this problem. How am i suppose to put larger skulls in acetone in a sealed container. Any idea what to use? What do the large skullhouses use? The largest skull i have done in acetone is a warthog in a five gallon pail with a tight lid. A tight lid is necessary because of the rapid evaporation and the fire hazard the fumes would make. I am not even able to do a medium sized whitetail buck because the antlers will not fit in the pail. Tried putting one buck in an open container in a turned off chest freezer one time and after a couple of days the fumes destroyed the rubber seal on the lid of the freezer. Anyone with any clues how to handle this situation is appreciated. Thanks alot! Skullery.....Jeff.....<><
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Do you have any idea of the hazards involved in that much acetone in the first place? It destroyed the seal on your freezer! That was silicone RUBBER. Do you think it is any less toxic on your LUNGS, TRACHEA, MUCUOUS MEMBRANES, or LIVER? What are you trying to do anyway, aside from creating a humongous bomb. Whatever it is, there's a much safer way of doing it if you'll just tell us.
George, i think you misunderstood or maybe i didn't make myself clear enough. I DID NOT fill the freezer full of acetone, i simply put a small container just big enough to fit the deer skull and cover the skull with acetone . That way the antlers could stick up out of the container. Then i put this small open container inside of the chest freezer just to contain the fumes and to stop stop the evaporation. Also this was done in the winter time way up north in wisconsin. Thats another whole problem because of the cold temperatures and having to do the acetone thing out in a garage . How would you do an antlered skull in acetone? Thanks...Skullery
But the fact remains of what those fumes did to the freezer seal regardless. I can't imagine using acetone for anything anymore, but in small quantities, I understand the bird guys wanting to dry their feathers (not really, but I know the story). Acetone on a deer skull cannot possibly serve any purpose that masceration in water wouldn't do just as well and more safely. Where did you ever hear or learn of such a practice anyway. I do hope you don't have small children around or near you when you do this. Acetone is just bad news and on young children, it's even worse. Find a safer alternative regardless of your reasoning.
When doing elk I cut 2 slots on each side of a large blue (white) drum. (like used on a tumbler)The antlers rest in the slots allowing the skull to be submerged. You could do this by cutting a drum with the lid on then tape it back into place. If the drum isn't big enough for the antlers then cut the slots and tape that also. I'm not one to judge what you are doing (curious though)but would think you would leave some small openings for fumes to escape. Hope this helps. Vic
he is trying to degrease the skull.
sorry i cant help you with a container, wish i had the answer for you.
i might have an alternative though. keep in mind, i have not tried this process first hand, so take this advice like any other from this forum.....with a grain of salt.
one cleaner i spoke with cleans his skulls by use of beetles, then submerges them in his contaier full of peroxide.... the strength escapes me at the moment. I think he soaks them overnight, but the length of time would be your call. upon removing the skull from the peroxide he has a boiling pot of water waiting into which he submerges the skulls for a minute or so and the grease comes out and goes to the top.
i have compared his skulls to others, and i have to admit...they are grease free. he says this is the only degreasing method he uses.
good luck
Send your skulls to Skulls Unlimited. All you do is cape the head out, freeze & ship. When you get them back, take them out of the box & call your client. No fumes, no smell, no worries.