All-Taxidermy is your source for reliable, professional skull cleaning services. Here at All-Taxidermy, our taxidermists utilize an animal skeleton preparation method called beetle cleaning to effectively clean off meat. In addition, we also sometimes use the maceration process. Whether its birds, reptiles, amphibians, or mammals, the meticulous beetle cleaning is used – preferably on fresh skulls for best results.
Dermestid Beetle Skull Cleaning
With our beetle skull cleaning, we utilize dermestid beetles to clean our skull taxidermy. Dermestid beetles, from the Dermestidae beetle family, remove the meat of the skull effectively both inside and outside of the skull. We use dermestid beetles because the skull stays intact using this method as opposed to the boiling method. In addition, the boiling method tends to shrink the skull or break down the cartilage in the nasal cavity. Overall, the dermestid beetle skull cleaning method is the most effective skull cleaning method available to better preserve skulls.
Furthermore, dermestid beetle skull cleaning is effective for moose, bear, cougar, fox, gazelle, deer, fish, amphibian, reptile, bird, and any other taxidermy skull or skeleton mounts.
Degreasing
The process of degreasing is essential to professional skull cleaning. This process involves the extensive removal of grease from the bones. Depending on how greasy the bones are that we are working with, it will take a minimum of 14 days for the full degreasing process. There are several degreasing agents that can be utilized for the process. These include the following:
– Benzine. This is an affordable and reliable degreaser to choose for skull cleaning. Another benefit of benzine is that it’s easy to locate.
– Acetone. This is an excellent degreaser, although it’s also quite expensive. Acetone dissolves most types of plastics.
– Trychloroethylene. This is probably the best degreaser available. It works similarly to acetone, but it is carcinogenic and toxic. We don’t recommend for use outside of a lab.
– Ammonia. This is used either undiluted or up to 50% diluted. Ammonia has rather irritating vapors and can only be used once.
– Hot soap. By contrast to some of the other degreasing methods, this option is much more affordable. You can use water with dishwashing soap, heated to about 176°F, but not boiled. We recommend only using for large skulls.
– Drilling holes. Drilling holes in the short ends of the hollow bones helps the process of degreasing.
Whitening
Following the dermestid beetle cleaning process, next, it’s time for the whitening stage. This whitening effect is achieved through an additive-free concentrated hydrogen peroxide. We use this reliable method because it will keep your taxidermy skull looking in excellent, pristine condition for years to come.
No matter if you have local specimens or exotic ones, our taxidermists will effectively clean and preserve your skull and skeleton trophies. Keep your skull well-preserved with the most effective whitening process at All-Taxidermy today!
Maceration
Although we typically use the beetle cleaning process, we will sometimes use the maceration process as well. With maceration, there are several techniques, the most effective of which is using the warm-water maceration method at about 95°F (35°C).
It is important to note that maceration is most effective for larger skulls and skeletons, because all the cartilage will become dissolved during the process. As a result, it’s not a good choice for small animals because teeth and small parts of the skulls will fall apart and it will be quite challenging to reconstruct. In particular, small rodents, bats, quails, reptiles, amphibians, and small fish do not preserve as well using the maceration method.
Bird skeletons are overall still okay for the maceration process, though, due to them having no cartilage and far less bones in their wings when compared with a mammal or reptile. Our taxidermists will note which professional skull cleaning method is best to use for your skull or skeleton piece before starting the skull cleaning process.
We Provide Nationwide Services
All-Taxidermy services the entire United States. Our facility and expert taxidermists can handle both skull and skeleton specimens alike. In addition, we can provide superior taxidermy services from a small mouse to a life-sized elk. All-Taxidermy can work with zoological establishments, museums, hobbyists, schools, collectors, and research groups alike to get you even the most exotic specimens you are looking for.
Shipping
Prior to shipping your skulls or skeletons to us for cleaning, we would ask that you first contact us via phone call at 1-888-983-3886 or on our contact us page.
IMPORTANT NOTES ON SHIPPING:
– PLEASE CONTACT US PRIOR TO SHIPPING
– SKULL AND SKELETON SPECIMENS MUST BE TRIPLE BAGGED
– PLEASE SHIP OUT ON MONDAYS SO THEY DON’T SIT OVER THE WEEKEND AT CARRIERS
– MUST BE COMPLETELY FROZEN
– PLEASE USE ONLY UPS OR FEDEX FOR FASTEST DELIVERY TIME
– RETURN SHIPPING HAS AN ADDITIONAL PRICE THAT WILL BE CALCULATED WHEN COMPLETED
Examples of Our Skull Cleaning
About All-Taxidermy
All-Taxidermy, based in Wrightstown, WI, provides stellar taxidermy and beetle-cleaning techniques for skulls. Our company is fully committed to quality and attention to detail in every taxidermy piece. We are a family-owned business and here at All-Taxidermy, we also make it our mission to treat our customers like family. In addition, we take great pride in the quality of our work, no matter the size or style of mount.
So no matter if we are providing professional skull cleaning services for a tiny squirrel, beautiful fox, or majestic moose, we demonstrate the same level of pride of the work that we do. In addition, we take great care to ship out your skull carefully, so that it arrives in pristine condition on your doorstep. You can rely on All-Taxidermy from the beginning of your skull cleaning to its shipment. If you have questions about our professional skull cleaning services, please direct them to our expert taxidermists at 1-888-983-3886 or contact us today.
Shop Skulls, Antlers & More
Let All-Taxidermy be your source for stunning skulls and taxidermy displays! Browse all our existing skull products, which each have been carefully cleaned. Our best quality skulls will have the “Deluxe Beetle Cleaned Skulls” logo, to indicate any museum-ready, Excellent, Superior, or Trophy quality grades. Shop all animal skulls/bones/teeth/tusk products here, or check out our antlers and horns category to see our skulls and horns/antlers specimens.
