I left skull in cage so bugs could eat off meat, the skull is clear of all meat, now I need to get it white. I've been soaking in hyd. peroxide (bought at drug store) for 5 hours with no color change at all. Is this normal or should I use something else. I've read other articles saying bleach is no good, any help would be great. Someone told me to degrease, I didn't know what to use to degrease or is deer skulls need to be degreased?
Thank you
Jeff
Return to Deer Taxidermy Category Menu
I boiled it in soda ash/water and then let soak in about a 50/50 mix of 40 volume peroxide and water over night. Which I guess would've been like straight 20 volume peroxide since I weakened it with water? Regardless the skull looked great.
out in the sun. I hardly ever see much change until after it's been in the sun for a while. BP
I use 40 Volume with the activator in pure form. I just brush it on with a white bristle paint brush and leave it for an hour or two and rinse thoroughly. Do not use colored bristles. It helps to let the skull dry completely before the treatment so that the bone will soak up the peroxide. Do not leave it in the peroxide overnite or extended periods. It can and will damage bone.
Grease is in the skull/bone and most times on a deer you can soak it out. I've seen big mulies that take a little different approach. Try soaking in hot water with dish soap (dawn or joy) for 5-7 days before whitening. Change the water/soap 2 or 3 times for best results. After whitening set in the bright sun for a couple days. If you do not degrease you won't get it completely white without dark spots. IF you cook which I do not reccommend then simmer instead. Too long in HOT-HOT water and the skull will look like a roadkill compared to a skull done properly.
Thank you for your help
another way to degrease is use acetone, Rittels degreaser or super solvent, dawn and borax, or VMP Naptha 99.12%. goodluck.