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Discoloration

Discussion in 'Skulls and Skeletons' started by hoytarcher, Feb 13, 2020.

  1. Feb 13, 2020 #1
    hoytarcher

    hoytarcher Member

    73
    9
    Iowa
    In the county I live in Iowa, we were hammered with EHD which resulted with a lot of dead deer. I have had people want me to do a euro mount but the problem I am having is the skull has been sitting with the rotting and decomposing hide on it. When I peel the hide off and boil, the skull is a brown color. My whitening process is not even touching the discoloration problem. I prefer not to paint them, any recommendations on how to get rid of that nasty color off the skull?
     
  3. Feb 13, 2020 #2
    Tnrandy

    Tnrandy Well-Known Member

    358
    406
    Tennessee
    We've done several like that this year. Are you degreasing them at all? We soak the skull in heated dawn and ammonia at 115-120 deg for 3-4 weeks...most the time the brown color is completely gone or very faint. then we whiten with either BO or vol 40 for 24hrs. This has worked for us so far.
     

  5. Feb 13, 2020 #3
    Sea Wolf

    Sea Wolf Well-Known Member

    14,141
    2,263
    Taxachusetts
    Get the grease out as above, whiten with peroxide and, if you still see brown stains, try soaking in a solution of Iron Out. There are threads on using this in the archive that you will find with a Search. Charge extra money for anyone bringing you a rotten head as well.
     
  6. Feb 13, 2020 #4
    hoytarcher

    hoytarcher Member

    73
    9
    Iowa
    Sea Wolf I learned that this year, I had 3 that came in that would make even the most seasoned medical examiner turn in disgust. Thank you to everyone for tell me how to get the discoloration out.

    Do either of you use acetone to remove grease? I have heard of others trying that and seemed to work.
     
  7. Feb 14, 2020 #5
    Tnrandy

    Tnrandy Well-Known Member

    358
    406
    Tennessee
    I have not used acetone yet, but I"ve seen it recommended on this site. I think Sea Wolf has and I"m sure he will respond. I have also seen it mentioned you can use camp fuel, or white gas, but I have not needed to do that either. the dawn and ammonia have worked for us so far. Good luck
     
  8. Feb 14, 2020 #6
    Sea Wolf

    Sea Wolf Well-Known Member

    14,141
    2,263
    Taxachusetts
    I use acetone as a last resort. Usually on something I get really irritated with because it isn't getting clean enough for me. Acetone soak for a month or more and then back into Dawn/ammonia. Acetone will get some grease out but then it also seems to alter the grease still in the bone and allows the detergents to get at it better. Acetone is difficult to use with anything with horns/antlers due to the fact that it is so volatile the container has to be sealed with the skull completely inside to prevent the acetone from evaporating. It is also potentially very dangerous and you should treat it as you would gasoline.
     
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