what do people recommend and what must i stay away from?
(I've boiled and water blastered it and it looks good so far)
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what do people recommend and what must i stay away from?
(I've boiled and water blastered it and it looks good so far)
Blonde hair dye
i was looking at blonde hair dye - it comes in different 'strengths'. very confusingQuote:
Originally Posted by Ryan_Songhurst
Get the strongest one ie: has the most peroxide in it. Mix it up, brush it on, leave and hour or so then clean it off
I'm just in the process of doing one, not quite 100% clean yet before a final degrease and peroxide.
It can be confusing as sometimes it is described as vol 20 (6%) vol 40 (12%) etc...TRADEME normally has a few examples although they seem pricey this year, I've normally got litre of developer for around $20 from memory.
Will have a look in a chemist but I think they will be more expensive.
Once your happy its clean and degreased put some protection around the base of the antlers, get a plastic tray that will fit the skull in and paint it on starting on the inside. Get into all the cavity. Put it somewhere warm, and leave it for 12-24 hours.
I normally do it before work then wash it off when I get home and let it dry fully before either settling with the result or giving it a bit more..I'm happy with taking a bit longer to get it right.
Good luck its rewarding and a good way of honouring your efforts on the hill and the animal.
Ant hill.
This is a cham skull done with hair dye, have done several with it now
Attachment 85982
Used “baquashock” last ones I did. It’s a pool cleaning liquid from farmlands. Was $60 for 5 litres and I used 1 litre of it on 2 tahr skulls.
Need to be careful with that because it's basically a strong alkali/chlorine and will actually chew into the bone and pit it if made up too strong or for too longQuote:
Originally Posted by Mick Hunter
Yes, this is what I do. So easy. If it's not white enough to your liking, do it again.Quote:
Originally Posted by Ryan_Songhurst
@Smartie what do you mean by final degrease?Quote:
Originally Posted by Smartie
oven cleaner
So give it a wash with warm water and detergent and let it dry before applying peroxide?Quote:
Originally Posted by Cordite
Yep pretty much that , warm/hot wash with detergent to get rid of any remaining fat/grease. I'll chuck up a photo of a few finished ones and a before and after of the one I'm doing now.Quote:
Originally Posted by bigbear
Thanks all I must do a few of mine in the shed:-)
Sent from my HP 8 using Tapatalk
This is Sika from a week or so ago, had a bit of a hold up currently waiting for the peroxide developer (none available in store locally)
At this stage I've boiled it and pressure washed it. When I'm not working on it I leave it in water to soften anything left over.
Next step will be a final hot wash off then paint peroxide product on until it has reached a nice white.
Attachment 86077
An update to previous.
The peroxide developer arrived via courier today, I'm home after nightshift so an ideal time to finish this skull.
Attachment 86181
I have not used this brand before so its a bit of an unknown - It came in a box ideal to apply the peroxide to the skull preventing arguments when the boss arrives home.
Attachment 86182
I gave it a bath it hot water to remove any remaining grease/fat and I think having it warm opens up the 'pores' of the skull a bit to aid the peroxide penetrating it.( just my opinion and I'm no expert)
Attachment 86183
Protect the base of antlers from accidental contact, it can happen. I just used tinfoil and glad wrap..would have used tape but have none right now.
Attachment 86184
I pour some developer into and over the skill and then use a brush to get into all the small spaces. Probably use around 150 - 200mls. What drops off is caught in your container/box and re applied.
Attachment 86185
If it was a warm day I would place in the sun, today I have just used the hair dryer on warm a few times every so often to help it along and left it in the garage.
Attachment 86186
Been an hour or so now, will give it a bit more time and see how it looks.
Spot on mate :thumbsup:
Just come in from giving a head a scrub. Going to let it dry of and see if i need to give it a once over. Lession learnt to spend more time when boiling and use a pressure washer. Is looking better with a wash.
Thanks Josh.Quote:
Originally Posted by JoshC
Slow day here...so after about two hours total ,washing, application and curing of developer I have just rinsed it off and placed outside to dry.
Attachment 86189
Attachment 86190
Attachment 86191
I cannot remember how long I have left them in the past with other product but this "bio" product seems pretty strong and fit for purpose.
Last step will be giving it a dose of Danish oil on the antlers once its all dry.
Cheers
Sweet came up mint. Consider sealing your skull with a mix of PVA and water. I do, don't know if it helps or not, but skulls I did several years ago still look mint.
Can you seal the antlers with any think to stop them fading?
Probably comes down to where you store them. I have sets that are 10years old and still look mint - I put Danish oil on them once a year or whenever I'm thinking of them, still dark as the day they were shot.Quote:
Originally Posted by bigbear
Keep them away from direct sunlight and weather and they should stay dark for years.Quote:
Originally Posted by bigbear
shit that's mint , I going to have a crack at it myself with that technique
I stand to be corrected but the Baquacil range is a hydrogen peroxide product, rather than chlorine.Quote:
Originally Posted by Ryan_Songhurst
I have just done a Sika for my daughter.
slow boil then water blast . Another boil with a dishwasher tablet in the water blast again then back in the water for another half hour. A final wash then out in the sun to dry.
Attachment 110292
Attachment 110293
Thanks for the info will now follow the steps
awesome
Really helpful thread, thanks.
"Baquashock" which is a swimming pool cleaner and is full of hydrogen peroxide works great. Costs about $55 - $60 from Farmlands or Wrightsons and comes in 5 ltr containers.
I use that to bleach skulls by painting it on with a paint brush and then letting dry.
Once completed I also put a thin coat of Danish Oil on antlers / horns and it comes up absolutely mint and seals in the colours!
Got this one soaking in a mix of Janola, Napisan and peroxide
Attachment 112130
I’ve used that mix before with good results
B
Shit he's alright shift14.
Yup....Quote:
Originally Posted by Preacher
B
Wow, chlorine gas generator that will bleach everything in the vicinity.
Anyone using acetone as a degreaser ? What strength ? or just another boil with some sunlight liquid?
Wishing I could go out and get a full size burner! Finishing off old gas cans before throwing on the bottle of Coleman spirits.
Attachment 138500
@john m whats the story on that Giant Sika head of your Daughters, I would of thought it would deserve a full shoulder mount ?
It was shot in an area not known for Sika. She had never hunted Sika or seen one. I received a text and photo asking "what have I just shot ?"my reply was, a Sika stag and thats about as big as they get.By the time the messages were exchanged she had cut off the head. Later when we realised it was a real trophy I sugested she could get another head skin and mount it.She said no, it wouldnt be my deer so thats why it is what it is.
Attachment 138547
@john m she was very lucky it looks to be a monster, I thought it may have been a Hybrid with those massive tray tines but looks very Jappie in the pic !
Was it a Waikato animal ?
