| I have been asked many times, “Can a previously whitened trophy can be re-whitened?” or, “Can a skull or bone that has sat out for a long period of time be whitened?”. The answer to both these questions is yes. The process will depend on the condition of the skull or bone. Below are some processes for particular situations. You can decide what process will best work for your display depending on the condition of the particular skull or bone that being whitened. Skulls/Bones sprayed with a lacquer finish will require this finish removed. Depending rather it has a simple clear finish or white paint applied this can be an easy or very difficult step. Using paint thinner, acetone, or white gas can remove most finishes. Each of these chemicals is dangerous and should only be handled with care and proper equipment. You may need to soak the skull or bone for a while to break down the finish. If the trophy has antlers/horns I suggest that they be protected using the method under whitening instructions. After the finish has been completely removed treat the trophy as an old or previously whitened skull. If the finish cannot be removed then I would not suggest applying the whitener for the results would be poor at best. Skulls/Bones that have been whitened previously but have yellowed over time will need the condition assessed. The condition of the skull or bone is a good indication of the initial process used to clean and prepare. For displays that were boiled too long the seams are open and weak, teeth can be loose or missing, and the bone material can be rough to the touch. The trophy may even have had some type of glued used to keep things in place. The boiling process can damage the skull or bone and should only be done minimally. If you feel the trophy is in relatively good shape then I suggest boiling in detergent water (dish soap) for 5 to 10 minutes depending on the condition and trophy type. Larger skulls and bones will require the longer time. The detergent is required to break down the coating or crust that has built up over time. This is a result of the oil and grease coming to the surface. Apply whitener as per the whitening instructions immediately upon removing from boiling water. If the skull or bone is damaged and boiling cannot be done then you can place it in an oven at low heat to bring the temperate very warm to the touch. Detergent can be applied by hand, thoroughly rinsed and then re-heated. If the trophy is to large for an oven then a heater can be used in such a way to heat the skull or bone material. This step can be repeated several times to break down the outer coating or crust. The number of times will depend on the condition of the display. Most can be broke down doing this step one to three times. Remember; be very gentle especially with smaller heads, nasal areas, and weakened joints. Once the outer coating or crust has been broke down heat and immediately apply the whitener as per the whitening instructions. Remember you can always repeat this process even after the whitener as been applied. Older Skulls/Bones that are clean but have never been whitened can be boiled for a short period of time (5-10 minutes) in detergent water (dish soap). Larger skulls and bones will require a longer period over smaller ones because of the bone mass. Again, the detergent is required to break down the coating or crust that has built up over time. Apply whitener as per the whitening instructions immediately upon removing from boiling water. Older Skulls/Bones that are not clean and have never been whitened can be boiled for a short period of time (10-15 minutes) in detergent water (dish soap) to help release the old flesh and tissue. All flesh, meat, and tissue need to be removed. As mentioned in the instructions a pressure sprayer works well for this step on larger skulls or bones. Once clean re-heat the trophy by placing in boiling water for half the initial time and immediately apply whitener as per the whitening instructions. If you have a situation you would like to discuss please feel free to email me at cci@skullwhitener.com. Please provide as much detail as you can including pictures if possible. Good luck with restoring your trophy display to the quality it deserves.
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