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Thread: Skull and antler display ideas needed

  1. #1
    Senior Member Full Otto's Avatar

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    Skull and antler display ideas needed

    OK I think I have a pretty good idea here but would like some feedback before I actually go ahead and put it together.
    This is the rack I found in the "been out walking" thread after cleaning.
    I've been told that it would be good to boil it but I kind of like the discoloration as it is and think that boiling it would get rid of that. On the other hand I'm wondering if boiling is better as far as preserving or if that really matters. I did use some bleach to get rid of some mossy green stain.
    How long would one boil it?




    I'm also using a piece of rough cut full dimension lumber that been here at my place longer than I've been alive. I just cleaned it, left the blade cuts and just used poly satin finish.
    Just wondering if it looks as good as I think it does or if the head deserves a better finish store bought type board behind it.
    Also could use some ideas on attaching the head to the board. I was planning on wiring it in strategic places where the bone would hide the wire.
    Any better products out there that makes this an easier task?
    I'd hate to ruin this by rushing it.
    Was also planning on giving the antlers a lite rub with furniture polish. Bad idea?
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  2. #2
    Senior Member Full Otto's Avatar

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    Never mind

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  3. #3
    Team Gunsnet SILVER 05/2012 deth502's Avatar

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    drywall screws through the back of the board.

    not feeling the 2x4. its not the rough cut look that im not liking, its the plain square dimensions. needs a little more flair, imo

  4. #4
    Senior Member binky59's Avatar

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    Nice looking. It's got that rustic thing goin'
    reminds me, I have some skulls to clean
    Just me and my monkey....

  5. #5
    Senior Member Full Otto's Avatar

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    Quote Originally Posted by binky59 View Post
    Nice looking. It's got that rustic thing goin'
    reminds me, I have some skulls to clean
    Thanks that's what I was going for since the skull was showing some age already.
    How do you clean yours? This is new to me


    Quote Originally Posted by deth502 View Post
    drywall screws through the back of the board.

    not feeling the 2x4. its not the rough cut look that im not liking, its the plain square dimensions. needs a little more flair, imo
    It's actually a 1x but I know what you're saying that's what was throwing me and why I was asking. I know I have a thinner piece around here with bark on the sides. I must have put it where I knew I could find it then somebody moved it. Ya know how that goes
    Did the wire and can redo it if I find a better piece I just wanted to get it up on the wall. Thanks for the input

    I'm going to be going back out soon on the same creek maybe I'll get lucky again it was a pretty cool find.
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  6. #6
    Team Gunsnet SILVER 05/2012 deth502's Avatar

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    btw, boiling it is just to get teh flesh off of it. if its "clean" theres no need for that. if you want to whiten it, i mean REALLY whiten it, you need to find some peroxide, not the drugstore shit, but REAL peroxide. if you ever see the commercial skulls that are so clean that they look fake, like theyre made of plastic, thats from the peroxide. afaic, the skull itself looks better like that, imo.

  7. #7
    Senior Member btcave's Avatar

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    Looks great!
    Trying to get on the no fly list, one post at a time.

  8. #8
    Senior Member binky59's Avatar

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    Bleaching skulls

    Thanks that's what I was going for since the skull was showing some age already.
    How do you clean yours? This is new to me

    I never boil skulls, if the skull is dry when you find it use a Hydrogen Peroxide soak.
    I use the 3% drugstore type @ $.99 per pint, and add 1/2 cup of Trisodium Phosphate
    per gallon. TSP is what they used to add to Tide detergent to make your whites brighter, the EPA
    banned the use of TSP back in the 70's so you need to buy it from a chemical supplier.
    For fresh bones I beatle clean them then do the wash.




    It's actually a 1x but I know what you're saying that's what was throwing me and why I was asking. I know I have a thinner piece around here with bark on the sides. I must have put it where I knew I could find it then somebody moved it. Ya know how that goes
    Did the wire and can redo it if I find a better piece I just wanted to get it up on the wall. Thanks for the input

    I'm going to be going back out soon on the same creek maybe I'll get lucky again it was a pretty cool find.[/QUOTE]
    Just me and my monkey....

  9. #9
    Senior Member Full Otto's Avatar

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    Thanks guys with that one up it looks pretty lonely and the wall looks pretty empty.
    Hopefully I kind try out some of the ideas.
    I've come across some fresh fox and skunk roadkills with some very nice tails. Tempted but haven't grabbed any yet.
    Is that too gross or should I go for it?
    I think that basically takes salt right?
    Maybe splitting if the meat hasn't dried to the skin yet?
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  10. #10
    Senior Member Full Otto's Avatar

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    Well I just got another one. This one was found by somebody else a while ago and has been hanging at the county garage.
    It's been there awhile and was kind of a mess nobody wanted it so they said take it.
    Still had matter in the skull and some dried out ooze in the eye. It was almost the same color as the antlers.
    I used some HP from my water system which is cut to 13% and bleach. Let it hang in the sun and kept applying it. Dried much lighter, way better now
    Had to use a little stain to one antler which had faded. Took it slow and got a pretty decent match, a little polish and up on the wall.



    Now the other one has some company

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  11. #11
    Senior Member Full Otto's Avatar

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    Quote Originally Posted by Omarion View Post
    these you really do need to put under glass
    Well I did find this today



    Might be able to do something with it
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  12. #12
    Team Gunsnet SILVER 05/2012 deth502's Avatar

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    Quote Originally Posted by Full Otto View Post
    Well I just got another one. This one was found by somebody else a while ago and has been hanging at the county garage.
    It's been there awhile and was kind of a mess nobody wanted it so they said take it.
    Still had matter in the skull and some dried out ooze in the eye. It was almost the same color as the antlers.
    I used some HP from my water system which is cut to 13% and bleach. Let it hang in the sun and kept applying it. Dried much lighter, way better now
    Had to use a little stain to one antler which had faded. Took it slow and got a pretty decent match, a little polish and up on the wall.



    Now the other one has some company



    Quote Originally Posted by Omarion View Post
    You can put photographs under glass to make a table your desk you can also decopague it to to wooden furniture.Paint or liquid starch to ceiling a light color these you really do need to put under glass or collect them in a photo album so they'll stick and display on like a lectern or something.
    ouch otto, he must not like you. the other 4 of his possibly spamming, broken english, nonsensical posts all begin with "hey friends". he must not count you in that list.

  13. #13
    Senior Member Full Otto's Avatar

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    Shamelessly stole this from another forum.
    I don't know the guy just had to show it. Didn't know they still had them this big around here. Well, way SE of me near Manchester from what I could gather
    They are guessing it's been dead a couple of years how it survived ???

    Last edited by Full Otto; 11-25-2012 at 07:13 PM.
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  14. #14
    Senior Member Full Otto's Avatar

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    Thanks.

    According to his post:
    It scored grossed 236. 228 7/8 after deductions
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  15. #15
    Senior Member Full Otto's Avatar

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    Well I scored another one and I found that board I was looking for earlier



    Was getting a little late for pictures so tried the flash
    A guy at work found it on the job and gave it to me.
    I couldn't believe it but I guess between hunting and work he's got more than he needs and knew I liked them so here it is.
    I think I need another wall
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  16. #16
    Senior Member Aggressive Perfector's Avatar

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    I don't like the board you have the first one sittin on, but the second two look great. I always preferred the Bleached Skulls over stuffed heads myself.
    "Never take pity on a blind man. He may not be able to see, but he saves a fortune by getting the butt ugly hookers".

  17. #17
    Guns Network Contributor 04/2013 El Laton Caliente's Avatar

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    45º slices out of a 8" plus cedar log make great mounting boards also. Slice and run through a planer, the coat with poly or other good finish.
    We found out what "dealing" with progressive lefties is all about. Our side gives up something, they give up nothing and the progressives come back in a month or a year and want us to give up more... rinse and repeat...

  18. #18
    Senior Member Full Otto's Avatar

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    Quote Originally Posted by El Laton Caliente View Post
    45º slices out of a 8" plus cedar log make great mounting boards also. Slice and run through a planer, the coat with poly or other good finish.
    If I'm following you that would be similar to the European type.
    I saw those when I first started
    Raises the head to a more natural look?
    I like those and at this rate I will probably be giving it a try.
    I'm working on converting an old metal circular corn crib into a shooting shack so I'll get some more wall space.
    So far I got a floor in and the inside walls paneled.
    Plan a fire bowl too with a stack right up the center there's already an opening up there with a cover.
    I'll start a thread on that when it's a little farther along
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  19. #19
    Senior Member Full Otto's Avatar

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    Quote Originally Posted by Full Otto View Post
    I'm working on converting an old metal circular corn crib into a shooting shack so I'll get some more wall space.
    I'll start a thread on that when it's a little farther along
    Ah the heck with it I'll show the progress right here in this one





    Salvaged the door from a burned out house down the road.
    Still needs glass hope to get that ordered this week.
    Got to get a stack fabricated but shouldn't be long before I can try it out
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  20. #20
    Senior Member Full Otto's Avatar

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    Whoa!

    I just missed this one
    My neighbor found it yesterday a little over a half mile west of me



    I've been trying to get in the area but deep snow and weather kept me from looking very far in
    Kept telling myself to get out there but..
    At least it got found and it wasn't a total waste of a nice buck
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