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How Bad Did I Mess Things Up?

Discussion in 'Skulls and Skeletons' started by PretiJewel, Nov 29, 2022.

  1. Nov 29, 2022 #1
    PretiJewel

    PretiJewel New Member

    18
    5
    Missouri
    I set up my bucket to degrease a bunch of bones yesterday in a 5-gallon bucket with a bucket heater and Dawn clear. When I checked it this morning it was cold. I adjusted the settings and went to work. When I got home (10 hours later), the thermometer showed 195F. I got it turned down, but I want to know how bad things may have gotten messed up.

    Contents of the bucket: deer spine, opossum, turtle, deer mandible and some ribs.
     
  3. Dec 2, 2022 #2
    Sea Wolf

    Sea Wolf Well-Known Member

    13,746
    1,889
    Taxachusetts
    Probably not too bad as it wasn't for a long time. If you are using the Allied type bucket heater, they get to almost boiling which is much to hot. There are thermostats that can be used with them though to keep it at 115 degrees. You are going to need that for your deer bones. The other specimens will be ok going along for the ride in the same container. Make sure you work a wire into the hollow area inside the mandible and drag out any crap in there.
     

  5. Dec 2, 2022 #3
    PretiJewel

    PretiJewel New Member

    18
    5
    Missouri
    Thank you for your help. I didn't have a wire or pipe cleaner or anything similar when I scrubbed off the bones, so I didn't go into the mandibular canal at the time. Should I go back and do it when I get them out of the soap? The mandible is at the bottom of everything, so I don't really want to go in and get it out right now. I'm planning on leaving that bucket to soak until New Year's
     
  6. Dec 2, 2022 #4
    Sea Wolf

    Sea Wolf Well-Known Member

    13,746
    1,889
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    No worries. Soaking will loosen up the chunks of what might be still in there. You need to get it all out as this stuff attracts bugs. Small diam hooked wires do great.
     
  7. Dec 19, 2022 #5
    CJMartin

    CJMartin Active Member

    117
    81
    Maryland
    i blow mine out with a compressor but you have to watch out for fling teeth sometimes!
     
    Tnrandy likes this.
  8. Dec 23, 2022 #6
    Sea Wolf

    Sea Wolf Well-Known Member

    13,746
    1,889
    Taxachusetts
    You would .. and also spattering rotted bits of nastiness going everywhere. Hope you use a good mask and face protection as even the thought of that goo getting on my face would give me cause to drink.
     
  9. Dec 25, 2022 #7
    CJMartin

    CJMartin Active Member

    117
    81
    Maryland
    i do wear a mask but i cover it up with a rag so i don't get splattered, like when i blow the brain out of the skull, that would be a mess if the rag fell off.