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BEFORE PICTURES ABOVE BLACK LINE, AFTER ON THE UNDER SIDE! should be obvious but just wanted to make sure that was obvious. xD
I own many skulls in my collection. But all of them have come to me pre-cleaned, whitened, and looking beautiful for display and my anatomy studies.
I recently acquired a wild boar skull that had been nature cleaned in the woods of Germany. Long story short: I got ripped off for a skull that wasn't as described. After a long fight for a refund or at least partial, I gave up and chalked it up to lesson learned. So. Rather then dump more money into the till to get it taken care of, I took it in my own hands to clean him up and at least try to make him look pretty. I was told that he was completely clean and sterile, safe for handling. Horrified when I opened the box to find it still had cartilage in some areas that was black with mud, bacteria, what have you. Not to mention some flesh still within the nose. So, pulled up my big girl pants and bit the bullet, and every squeamish gag that came form me, and took on the task myself to clean it. This is why I never get green skulls myself to clean. I don't have the stomach for it, nor the place for dermestids, maceration, or letting it rot outside. I'm really glad that I gave this guy a good cleaning...boy did that peroxide bubble. Within two days it was so clouded, I couldn't even see the skull soaking in it. YUCK!
Keep in mind, I've never, ever done this before. So, I'm sure he doesn't look half as nice as what some of you professionals out there can do. But, at the same time, I'm rather proud of my work. I'm currently doing the same treatment for a nature cleaned possum that was found in a barn.
Not bad for my first try, right? From what I read, boars/pigs/hogs are notoriously hard to get clean. And after this, I totally believe it.
My apologies for the horrible patch together of the photos. Did this on my laptop, which has no photoshop. -_-
I own many skulls in my collection. But all of them have come to me pre-cleaned, whitened, and looking beautiful for display and my anatomy studies.
I recently acquired a wild boar skull that had been nature cleaned in the woods of Germany. Long story short: I got ripped off for a skull that wasn't as described. After a long fight for a refund or at least partial, I gave up and chalked it up to lesson learned. So. Rather then dump more money into the till to get it taken care of, I took it in my own hands to clean him up and at least try to make him look pretty. I was told that he was completely clean and sterile, safe for handling. Horrified when I opened the box to find it still had cartilage in some areas that was black with mud, bacteria, what have you. Not to mention some flesh still within the nose. So, pulled up my big girl pants and bit the bullet, and every squeamish gag that came form me, and took on the task myself to clean it. This is why I never get green skulls myself to clean. I don't have the stomach for it, nor the place for dermestids, maceration, or letting it rot outside. I'm really glad that I gave this guy a good cleaning...boy did that peroxide bubble. Within two days it was so clouded, I couldn't even see the skull soaking in it. YUCK!
Keep in mind, I've never, ever done this before. So, I'm sure he doesn't look half as nice as what some of you professionals out there can do. But, at the same time, I'm rather proud of my work. I'm currently doing the same treatment for a nature cleaned possum that was found in a barn.
Not bad for my first try, right? From what I read, boars/pigs/hogs are notoriously hard to get clean. And after this, I totally believe it.
My apologies for the horrible patch together of the photos. Did this on my laptop, which has no photoshop. -_-
Category Scraps / All
Species Unspecified / Any
Size 892 x 890px
File Size 716.5 kB
Oh man...I'm in that same boat as you, with not having the stomach to handle cleaning. I still have a coyote skull that was sent to me 'nature cleaned' rather than actually cleaned, and I can't bring myself to clean it. So it sits wrapped in plastic in a plastic bag, waiting for the day that I get up enough courage to try and clean it properly so I can display it.
Looking at your submission it looks like you got it pretty clean, but sometimes pictures don't do an item justice, When you soak things in peroxide the peroxide immediately begins to degrade. Light and heat will make it degrade even quicker, I personally don't like to leave things soaking in it for more than a day. If you think it can be whiter I would suggest going to the Dollar Tree and grabbing a tub of "LA's Totally Awesome Oxygen Cleaner" http://www.dollartree.com/assets/pr.....rge/156846.jpg
Mix that with a little peroxide or water, just enough to make a thick paste and "paint" it on your skull. The active ingredients in that stuff turn into peroxide, and I've found it to be very effective, I had some teeth from an old coyote (they were brownish grey) and they're a very clean ivory now.
Sometimes it takes a few rinses and soaks to get the bones pearly. Here are some shots I took of a cat skull, I didn't get a proper "before and after" shot, but you can see how white I got it, this was with 3 one-day soaks (left out in the sun)
http://www.furaffinity.net/view/8470141/
http://www.furaffinity.net/view/8535685/
Mix that with a little peroxide or water, just enough to make a thick paste and "paint" it on your skull. The active ingredients in that stuff turn into peroxide, and I've found it to be very effective, I had some teeth from an old coyote (they were brownish grey) and they're a very clean ivory now.
Sometimes it takes a few rinses and soaks to get the bones pearly. Here are some shots I took of a cat skull, I didn't get a proper "before and after" shot, but you can see how white I got it, this was with 3 one-day soaks (left out in the sun)
http://www.furaffinity.net/view/8470141/
http://www.furaffinity.net/view/8535685/
-Yoik
Well the ammonia is more to draw out the grease, the peroxide cleans the stains, You usually only see grease seep into the bones when the animal was boiled to clear the flesh, so yea, you most likely wont have to soak it in ammonia. :p (though some animals are notorious for just being greasy, I've had a set of deer shins that have been giving me some REAL trouble >.> )
After a few weeks just check out the stained areas, grease tends to rise to the surface, so you'll know if any is in the bones, If you can't ammonia soak it (for future reference) you can also use Dawn dish soap and hot (not boiling) water to clear off grease, but it takes several soakings.
After a few weeks just check out the stained areas, grease tends to rise to the surface, so you'll know if any is in the bones, If you can't ammonia soak it (for future reference) you can also use Dawn dish soap and hot (not boiling) water to clear off grease, but it takes several soakings.
Boars/pigs are notoriously greasy. like bears and gators, from what i've read. I'll let him an dthe possum sit on the shelf for a while and see what turns up. And if anything does turn up, I'll whip out the clear dawn soap and hot water. I'll have to find a plastic aquarium heater to keep the water hot. Do you get the water sudsing with the water, or just put the soap in the water and not spray to get it foamign with soap suds? I think the possum might be too far gone given that it seems to be mineral stained. Much to my dismay ><
I usually soak the bones in hot water for a little, drain the sink, (I have an extra bathroom that I make "bone soup" in heheh) refill it, pour the soap directly on the bones (and pout it generously) and scrub them with a toothbrush, and set them back in the hot water. (of course... not boiling) You really don't need the water heater as long as you switch the water every hour or so, but I guess to save you effort it might be easier.
And really, ammonia isn't all that bad/hard to do, to me it's a much better degreaser, I do have a workshop where I do most of my cleaning, but I rarely cover the ammonia containers, I'm sure if you got a large tub to do this in you could easily get a lid and not smell it at all. I just flush the spent ammonia down the toilet, and it's a cheap degreaser usually just $1 a gallon.
However you do it it is important to periodically scrub and rinse the surfaces, it takes off any oils that do surface, allowing the rest to also be drawn out.
Hope this is helpful, and as always, if you do run into a hard place, just give us a shout and we'll be happy to help ASAP!
And really, ammonia isn't all that bad/hard to do, to me it's a much better degreaser, I do have a workshop where I do most of my cleaning, but I rarely cover the ammonia containers, I'm sure if you got a large tub to do this in you could easily get a lid and not smell it at all. I just flush the spent ammonia down the toilet, and it's a cheap degreaser usually just $1 a gallon.
However you do it it is important to periodically scrub and rinse the surfaces, it takes off any oils that do surface, allowing the rest to also be drawn out.
Hope this is helpful, and as always, if you do run into a hard place, just give us a shout and we'll be happy to help ASAP!
Ah, gotcha. I think I'll give the dawn soap method a shot, I'll hopefully be getting a beaver soon this way and will give this method a go on it. I may try the ammonia sometime, but with current conditions, its really not easy to do. xD But thanks very much for all the information, you've been of great help! Also, I've got my possum uploaded, would like the boar and possum uploaded to the community if possible please.
Thanks!
Thanks!
Got a guide or somethin' to follow for cleanin' skulls? I recently acquired a boar skull of my own that could really use a cleanin'. Got him cheap from a guy at a flea market, but upon closer inspection, it turned out to be really dirty. I'm pretty sure there's dried up brain matter still inside. Do you just leave the skulls to soak in peroxide? For how long?
I'm still a amateur at skull cleaning. But I'd be happy to share what knowledge on the matter I have. I would wash it down real good with some warm/ hot water (not boiling water obviously) and some CLEAR dawn dish soap. (never use the colored soap, it can stain your skull) and once that's had a good scrub down and what not to get rid of the excess dirt, maybe give it a peroxide bath if it's not as white as you would like it. Be sure to wear gloves as you don't know what kind of germs may be present on the skull. (I always clean mine if I'm not sure of their origin)
The peroxide for my boar fizzed up really bad, which meant that a LOT of bacteria was still present. And to think I had touched it with bare hands, GROSS. Lots of hand-washing went on after that!
Use 3% peroxide and let it soak completely submerged in a plastic tub with a lid on it. It has to have a lid to seal in what little bleach is in peroxide to help whiten the skull. I'd soaked mine for 3 and a half days to get it like this. It really depends on a case by case basis. Just check on it every day, give it a good look over. If its not where you want it, put it back in to soak some more. If your peroxide gets very merky/dirty, might be time to change it out. When finished, wash the skull off with the hot water method again, and let it air dry for a couple days. Just because it feels dry to the touch doesn't mean it is. Bone is porous, it's probably soaked in pretty deep and needs time to completely evaporate. If you can, let it sit in the sun to dry and bleach it naturally with beautiful sunlight.
The peroxide for my boar fizzed up really bad, which meant that a LOT of bacteria was still present. And to think I had touched it with bare hands, GROSS. Lots of hand-washing went on after that!
Use 3% peroxide and let it soak completely submerged in a plastic tub with a lid on it. It has to have a lid to seal in what little bleach is in peroxide to help whiten the skull. I'd soaked mine for 3 and a half days to get it like this. It really depends on a case by case basis. Just check on it every day, give it a good look over. If its not where you want it, put it back in to soak some more. If your peroxide gets very merky/dirty, might be time to change it out. When finished, wash the skull off with the hot water method again, and let it air dry for a couple days. Just because it feels dry to the touch doesn't mean it is. Bone is porous, it's probably soaked in pretty deep and needs time to completely evaporate. If you can, let it sit in the sun to dry and bleach it naturally with beautiful sunlight.
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