Now that your skull is nice and clean, you want to let the skull drain and dry. It is best to limit this to 2 cleanings in order to not damage the skull from the heat. If it still isn’t completely free of tissue, repeat the boiling procedure above again to get the last remaining bits. I find using an knife and a piece of old wire coat hanger to work the best.Īt this point your skull should be looking very clean. You want to get into every little crack and crevice possible. Now it is time to manually remove as much tissue as you can again. Clean AgainĪfter the skull has been in the warm water for 30-60 minutes remove the skull. You should see the surface of the water develop a layer of grease as you soak the skull and the meat loosens. Place the skull in the simmering water and let it sit for 30-60 minutes with the heat keeping the water at a simmer temperature. Boiling water is too hot and may damage the skull. You do not want the water at boiling temperature when the skull is in it. The ratio doesn’t need to be perfect, just approximate.īring the water to a boil then reduce the heat until it is simmering. Mix water with baking soda in a ratio of around 1/4 cup baking soda for every gallon of water. There are a few ways you can do this but the best method I have tried is to boil the skull in a mixture of water and baking soda.įind a pot large enough that your skull will fit in it. Soak and Boil the SkullĪfter you have removed as much tissue as you can manually, the next think to do is to soak the skull in warm water. The more you can get off now, the easier the job will be later after boiling. Use a sharp knife (I like the Victorinox Bird’s Beak) to cut away as much as you can. The toughest part is usually on the skull around the antlers. This includes the eyes, brain, and all the skin. This means removing all flesh, hair, muscle tissue etc. The first step you need to take before bleaching a skull is to get it nice and clean. Take your time and follow the instructions and you will be happy with the results. Make sure to use hydrogen peroxide in the concentration specified below, do not use household bleach. Whether you want to do a European mount of deer antlers or have a bear skull for your table, the method below will work. Here is a step by step guide you can follow when bleaching skulls. Much like adding a patina to a steel blade, there are many methods you can use when bleaching skulls but in this article I outline what I have found to be the easiest approach based on my experience. This isn’t something that you need a taxidermist for as long as you are willing to set aside some time to learn and put in the effort. One of the keys to whitening a skull is to use hydrogen peroxide instead of bleach like you may have suspected.īleaching skulls and bones is not difficult but it will require you to set aside some time to complete the task. If done right they offer you a way to show off and enjoy your collection on a daily basis. Bleached skulls are a great way to display the fruits of a successful hunt.
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