I'm currently building a dermisted colony to solve my problem but bugs aren't my question. When using sodium carbonate to boil off the tissues, after drying (and even before) I absolutely CANNOT get the sodium carbonate scale and residue off . I've tried wire brushing (by hand) in conjuntion with vinegar and baking soda which sort of worked but falls well short of satisfactory. CAN this stuff be cleaned off? Thanx a bunch for any help. P.S. My technique for cleaning skulls is- 1. Remove as much flesh as possible. 2. Boil 1/2 to 1 hour. 3. 1 week in water (maceration) 4. Boil again 1/2 to 1 hour.
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"boiling" might be the problem. Slow simmer, never a full boil. You might be cooking it right into the bone.
That is your main probem.
sodium bicarbonate is what you want to use.
You might omit step 2. You are killing off a good inoculum of bacteria by boiling prior to maceration...the longer in the water, the better (try 30 days minimum). Then simmer, not boil for a short while, check often. Search archives for maceration.
Or Sodium Hydroxide, or Sodium Hypochlorite (Bleach), or Sodium Perborate, or any other "cleaning" chemical containing sodium. Of cource this is only if you want Museum Quality. If you want sub-standard skulls use whatever you want, just be ready for scale, residue, flaking, etc.
for the input. Lest you all think I'm a novice, I only used the word boil as that is the term I use with myself. I understand simmer.