Taxidermy question killing algae/mold on skull?

[CaptTripps]

I have a sun-bleached deer skull, I am trying to whiten before mounting. About %70 sun-bleached, %20 brownish color and %10 algae green. Will Magnesium Carbonate/Hydrogen Peroxide paste (brush on type whitening) kill the algae? I have it soaking in %3 peroxide for 2 days now and there is no color change at all. I know I need stronger peroxide but am having a tough time finding it locally. Will the paste kill the algae and/or remove the green color? Or will I need to paint it? I did a racoon skull in the same style and painted it with watered down white Elmers glue and it blended the color nicely.

 

[Cypress]

Usually bleach will knock the algae color out in minutes. Maybe try a weak bleach solution like 10:1 and give it a try.

 

[Patocazador]

I don't know if this will work on all the stains but I use a bottle of 3% peroxide (16 oz.), 6 oz. of bleach and water to fill to cover the skull.
Don't leave it in the solution for more than 1-2 days or the bleach will cause some damage to the skull.

This will not get the skull bright white. I use matte white spray paint for that.

 

[CaptTripps]

Well guys I have read not to use bleach as it will cause the bone to become brittle and eventually flake and all apart. I found some salon strength peroxide at a Beauty Salon chain store, Sally Hanson Beauty Supply. It is sold as (Brand name) 40 volume, or 20 volume which I was told will only brighten so far. I'm not sure the difference between volume and % but it is obviously much stronger. I spilled some on my hand, in the store from a lose cap. In about 30 seconds it had fizzed and burned my skin leaving a whitish residue. I'm getting ready to try it I will post updates.

 

[Cypress]

That's the same stuff I've used. Works pretty good but not sure about the algae. If not the bleach usually doesn't hurt if you use it for a short period of time and rinse well.

 

[rcmodel]

Chlorine Bleach, diluted 10/1, dip, and rinse in fresh water for short periods until the stains are gone.

rc

 

[CaptTripps]

Well it was been soaking in the volume 40 peroxide for 20 hours now and there is only a slight perceptible change in color. I guess I will try the bleach color. It is an 8 point white-tail buck that I found the skull of while hiking. It still has the horns and I want to make a nice hall-hanger out of it. I will try the bleach mixed 1/10 bleach water and rinse well. I will probably end up painting the skull anyways. The horns are sunbleached and I have been experimenting with another shed pair I have, dyeing them. I have tried water based stain and water color paint. The paint seemed to work, staining the antlers. I don;t have the appropriate color paint tho yet. I have heard of using potassium permanganate to stain antlers, has anyone used this?

 

[CaptTripps]

Okay guys, I tried the bleach, Mixed 10 parts water to one bleach. Would give it about a 5-6 minute bath and then rinse well. I repeated this about 10-12 times over the course an an hour or so. It knocked the bright green color down to a dull greenish looking stain. Faint but still there. I am getting ready for work but I am going to peroxide it some more today and tonight if it is not white I will bleach it again. I am thinking I will end up painting it. Does anyone have any tips regarding that idea? Its not a trophy but it is a nice enough rack. In the past I have used a thinned down white Elmers type paper glue. Maybe I will use that or I was thinking of using white craft type paint. Any ideas tips?

 

[Kingcreek]

I have one w plain flat white spray paint. Looks fine. Light spray, not heavy.

 

[CaptTripps]

I have finally given up on totally whitening the skull. I will have to paint it. I am convinced the algae is dead, however the color remains. On the other hand he antlers have turned out very well. They were sunbleached also but on the backside you could tell they were dark tan brown at time of death. I used Minwax oil based stain, "Colonial Maple", two coats applied and then quickly wiped off stained them a pleasant nut brown with hints of grey and white. Sounds goofy but it really looks natural and I am very pleased how well they turned out. I will post updates and photos this weekend.

 

[Nature Boy]

can't wait to see it

 

[TimSr]

Boil it in water for about 5 minutes, add some bleach, let it soak and cool in bleach water an hour or so. Rinse, allow to dry completely, and All the way through (a day or two), spray with clear enamel, 2 or 3 coats, drying in between.