I have looked through the archives here and on other websites and have found different answers to my question. So I'm not sure what to do. I found a 10 inch turtle shell and want to clean and preserve it (maybe paint it). There doesn't appear to be any flesh inside except a little bit of white patches here and there. It smells very bad. Do I use Preservz-It and let it soak for 3-4 days or 1-2 weeks? Then do I let it dry in the sun or under lamps? Or perhaps I should soak it in formaldahyde or borax? How long for those I don't know. Perhaps I should boil it but I'm afraid that might ruin the shell. What do I use after it's clean? Should I use Stays Clean by Benwood and then seal with polyurethane? Can you paint over polyurethane? It's a beautiful shell. I have had it for almost a week. Of all the suggestions, I like to know which one is best for someone who is even newer than a novice. Thanks.
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Don't go making it all complicated. If the shell is past the major decomposition, just let it set out a few more days in the sun with the flesh side up. If not, then power wash the inside. Never boil it or the scales will come off the carapace. (I'm assuming here that the scales are still on the shell.) Allow it to dry outside. Then paint the inside heavily with polyurethane and let it dry. Once dry, turn it over and put a coat on the carapace.
Thanks for the response. I tend to make things complicated and apparently so does my teenager. This morning he decided to take matters into his own hands. He put the shell into the oven for 15 minutes at around 300 degrees! Then he took it out and poured salt all over it because it smelled really bad. Sigh. Some of the plates are now bubbling up but are not coming off and it smells worst than ever. Any suggestions?
Keep teenagers away from ovens? Your turtle is cooked; literally and figuratively. The thin connective tissues holding the scales in place have been destroyed by the heat and will likely make the scales fall off. Toss it and better luck next time. OR you could settle for just the bleached shell without any scales.
Just have to ask. What was the salt for? Salt is inert. Baking soda or borax would have certainly been more realistic choices. The term I use for actions like this is "gasoline ass". If you're in that much of a hurry, you usually get burned. Slow down on the next one.