restoring sun bleached bone

[BELLOTABUCKS]

i have a skull and rack and it is in great shape, not a single mouse nibble. was thinking it would be cool to stain the rack to give it a european look instead of all white. will any old stain work like a wal-mart brand or one from ace? any tips on how to make it look authentic or natural? or will applying it w a brush do the trick?

[25-06]

I would try it on a old shed first.

[youngbuck]

A taxidermist told me any wood stain (make sure it doesnt have the polyurethane in it). He used different colors mixed with dirt to get the color he wanted. Elk vs deer and even elk from different spots. I'm sure you could use dirt, mud, and brush to do it too. Ive always wanted to try a dirt/wax mixture, but never have.

[BELLOTABUCKS]

Thanks YB! Gonna give it a go. The color i went with is called old american, got a pre stain seal too all w no poly. I'll mix some w dirt and test on something and go back for another color if I need to.

[BELLOTABUCKS]

Early american not old american

[youngbuck]

Do it in multiple layers. I was told dark walnut for dark elk antlers. Early american should be about right in color for deer. Have a rag a little damp w/ paint thinner to wipe down the burs and tips rift after aplying the stain to get the light colors looking right.

[Jimmer Negamanee]

Good luck! Let us know how it goes.

 

If it's not too much of an imposition (or invasion of your privacy), pictures would be great too! It'd be cool to see the trial and error process as well as the finished product.

[BELLOTABUCKS]

i think it came out alright a little too solid. i might try a white crayon or rubbing it with wax. tips are white but very small. i put in a pic next to a buck from a few years back to show the difference but i will definately stain any skull i find going forward. i think he looks cool on my bull just may leave him there ][attach

ment=29898:0114112146a_1_.jpg]

[Tines]

I've found that using what appears to be "too light" of a color actually works better. You can always go darker but not sure how to go lighter after its already applied....

[WFGinNM]

Whenever I have to bring a little life back into some antlers I use Old English Furniture polish, using a rag I start down at the base and slowly work up to the points. Go light and work it over a few times until you like what you see. If you want to lighten your tine/points up try sanding with fine sandpaper 220 or higher grit.

 

--Bill

[BELLOTABUCKS]

thanx bill i will try that