Contributors to this thread:
I am trying to Skull mount this years elk, using the macerating technique.
I’ve done a few deer before that turned out fine. However I am struggling to whiten this elk skull. I am only having an issue around the pedicles where the water line would be at times from evaporation while macerating. The water at one point turned greenish from algae due to the sun/temperature which I haven’t seen before. I think this stained this particular area of the skull maybe (not sure)
Anyway, after cleaning and soaking in peroxide this is the only area I’m struggling with. I even tried to soak bleach in this area thinking maybe it would work but no change.
Any suggestions?
I’ve tried that too buckeye
Coat a paper towel with the Volume 40 peroxide crème and wrap around that area. Let it sit overnight rise off and let dry. You might need to do a few times but I think you will see improvement each time and get it cleared up.
The whitener from Van dykes works better than peroxide
If all else fails paint it with kilz.
Saran wrap the antlers ans spray paint the skull an oof white or bone color.
Have had to do it on several.
I add a couple quarts of Aqua Silk to the water and do a final simmer you won’t be disappointed with the results will draw all remaining oil out make sure to cover the antler with Seran wrap and good electrical tape or you will loose that good dark antler color if it’s comes in contact with antler it does not discriminate when it comes to bleaching
Make a paste with Basic White and volume 40 peroxide. Avoid any "cream" hair products. Give it a good coat and wrap with plastic wrap and set in the sun. Leave it for a day or two and then rinse and see where you are at. Occasionally I will need a second application.
That’s grease imbedded into the bone, after macerating needs to be degreased not whitened, after is all degreased you can whitened, 115F with ammonia and dawn, for a few weeks should work The most important step that no one take it
Should have been degreased first. That will take out any blood stains or other stains. Once that’s done then you move on to the whitening process.
Simmer in borax and dish soap for several hours. Then pain on 40 vol peroxide and set in sun all day. Repeat as needed.
As a few have noted, there is still lots of grease in the skull cap. You need to get rid of this first.
Skull, it’s been soaked in 120 deg dawn soap water and ammonia for a month to degrease
It’s now back in for more degreasing until some whitening products from Van Dykes shows up.
Maybe there’s more grease to come out but I figured/appeared it was done.
Did you cover the entire skull all the way up to the antler bases when degreasing? If so, I’m surprised those stains didn’t come out. If the stains still don’t come out then you may need to paint over them. Other options like soaking in acetone can get expensive.
Butcher, I covered it just barely as I didn’t want to clean the antlers too much, and daily the water level would drop and this area would be exposed for a while until I’d add more water. Sometimes a day or two as I’d go hunting. I’m thinking this is def the cause, I’m just not sure how to resolve it.
I have it plenty full now until whitening products arrive, so maybe it’ll come out. If the antlers change color I’ll just deal with it then.
try scraping that area with a knife.
