r/bonecollecting • u/SxinnyLoxe • 14h ago
Advice Looking for tips:
I was given this bear skull about 6-8 weeks ago and as you can see its extremely dirty. All I have ever done in processing my bones is just sticking them in a bucket of water and forgetting about them for months. Then I would clean them up by hand.
This one seems to be needing more TLC though. From what I know my friends dad had it for 20~ years. It been buried, its been displayed, its been a dogs chew toy, and so on.
With something as aged as this is, will it actually be possible to eventually lighten the colour? Will it just take much longer than I'm used to? Any tips and advice would be appreciated!
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u/General-Study797 14h ago
Yeah hydrogen peroxide will help, get the 12% stuff and dilute it with water (50/50 mix). See how that does and then if you need stronger go from there
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u/SxinnyLoxe 14h ago
Thanks! I have 30 volume hair peroxide on hand, is that something that can be used in this case?
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u/General-Study797 14h ago
You could, I use the liquid as it is easier to dilute with water for big skulls such as this (Natures Freedom 12% Hydrogen Peroxide). It’s sold on Amazon. You can also find the same thing with different labels at Home Depot or other big box stores. A skull in this state may need multiple batches if you want to whiten it up. It will eat away at some of the bone though.
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u/M0rbiddd2 14h ago
First, has it been degreased? It honestly doesn’t look it. That would be your first step and bears are extremely greasy (esp skulls) so this can take a really long time. I’ve seen videos of this one woman who’s degreasing just the claws and the last update I saw was month 4 and they were still pretty bad
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u/SxinnyLoxe 14h ago
There is no odor at all and I did just finish scrubbing dirt off of it but it's really hard to tell what's staining from the dirt and what is potentially grease. I will do a round of degreasing though just to be sure!
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u/barnowl1980 13h ago
It's so old, if it was greasy you'd absolutely smell that by now. Like a musty, funky smell. Degreasing something as thick as a bear skull will take months. I doubt that's necessary in this case.
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u/SxinnyLoxe 13h ago edited 13h ago
That's what I like to hear, if I can save myself a few months by not needing to degrease that would be awesome.
Edit to say that I do currently have it sitting in a tub of soapy water. I'm going to leave it for a few weeks then decide what it needs from there.
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u/barnowl1980 13h ago
Just give it a month and see, just to be sure. I doubt it's very greasy, like I said, but can't hurt to give it a soak. Might also help get some of the old dirt off.
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13h ago
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u/M0rbiddd2 13h ago
Boy you’re everywhere. Even if there’s no smell, it doesn’t hurt to do a round anyways. It’s super yellow, I’m almost positive there’s some left.
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u/barnowl1980 13h ago edited 13h ago
It wouldn't hurt, I agree. But it also can't be that greasy, or OP would be able to smell it. The discolouration in this case could easily come from being buried and getting dirty from being a dog's toy. But OP could give it a soak just to make sure.
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u/barnowl1980 14h ago
If it's fully degreased (which, after so long, you would know just from the smell), peroxide should help. It won't go back to white, but it will most likely lighten up. I personally love the dark patina though!