hog skull degreasing

[mike_cook82]

I have a hog skull sitting in my tree outside. i boiled it and got everything off fairly easily. The problem is that it is still greasy and splotchy. I've tried reboiling it in dish soap and baking soda and it still really didnt work. Does anybody out there have any advice that would clean this thing up nicely? And what would be a good whitening agent to use? I've gotten a couple of different answers and don't know how reliable the source is. Thanks in advance for any help.

 

[ltdann]

The pro's say soak it in white gas (colemans fuel) for a few weeks to remove the last of the grease.

For whitening, soak in 70% hydrogen peroxide. Thats stronger than you can get at the supermarket. You can find that at beauty supply stores.

After degreasing, I've successfully used the grocery store peroxide overnight, followed by an hour soak in half/half bleach water combo. Don't leave it the bleach too long, it'll soften the bone and turn it yellow. Make sure you rinse well between the peroxide and the bleach, otherwise some strange things happen!

 

[mike_cook82]

haha! thats awesome. thanks alot LT!

 

[ltdann]

After thinking about it some more, there's another degreasing method i've been meaning to try but haven't yet. There's a heavy duty kitchen degreaser that they sell at Smart and Final. I've used it to clean my truck tires and the smokehouse, it cuts grease and gunk like nobodies business. Comes in gallon sizes and its cheaper and safer then Coleman fuel.

 

[weekender21]

1 part coleman fuel, 5 parts water for a few weeks followed by 40%peroxide overnight should do the trick. I would stay away form the bleach. It can soften up the bone in a hurry and make it permanently brittle.

 

[mike_cook82]

LT i know exactly what youre talking about. the only hiccup is how long to leave it in? i might just do the 40% peroxide trick and see what happens

 

[weekender21]

I've heard acetone works well for degreasing as well but haven't tried it...

 

[ltdann]

LT i know exactly what youre talking about. the only hiccup is how long to leave it in? i might just do the 40% peroxide trick and see what happens

Well, with the cheap stuff, I usually leave it all day (6-8 hours) or overnight. I'd say give it a few hours take it out, rinse it and let it dry a bit. If its not white enough, put it back in for a few more hours.

 

[busybeetle skull cleaning]

boiling or simmering the skull actually cooks the grease and fat into the bone. You will need to soak the skull in water and dawn dish soap in water that is heated to 110 degrees for a matter of time until the grease quits coming out of the skull and then whiten with peroxide, basic white and volume 40 mixed to a paste. leave for 24 hrs with heat.

 

[Huntr Pat]

I soak all my work in hot water dawn and some cleaning powder. If you over boil over long periods of time it can also weakend the bone/skull matter. So be careful. The peroxide from beauty salons is only 16% the stuff thats higher in peroxide is expensive by means of shipping and hazardous fees.
Caution: Its good to get the water hot with dawn which will soften the grease in the skull but you have to change the water often. The best thing to do is get a bucket heater in a bucket and water it will soften the grease which will in turn raise to water surface but will eventually get the grease out. The more grease you get out the whiter your skull will be. sometime this can take a week or so. Don't rush it.
I use a bucket heater that keeps the water temp about 120 dg and change the water often.