Patchy Bleaching

[Mac78]

First attempt at bleaching a Roe Buck over the weekend. Kept the skull wet prior to bleaching and also used dish soap during the boiling process to degrease.
I used 12% peroxide hair dye cream which seemed to coat the skull well. Left for 24hrs then rinsed off, however it's come out patchy.
Any suggestions for a second attempt? Wonder if there's still fatty deposits in the pours preventing the bleach from penetrating?

On a side note, the head weighed 611grams air dry.

 

[lotuseater]

I have had similar results as a beginner. I am boiling a head later today as it happens. I was wondering, after seeing some Safari videos on YouTube that strayed into trophy prep, whether covering the cleaned skull in salt for several days prior to bleaching will help draw out moisture and fats? Failing that, just avoiding impatience and allowing a few weeks for it to dry out thoroughly pre-bleaching?

The other problem I think is that domestic peroxide, even the 12% which seems to be the strongest generally available, is just not strong enough for the job?

This would work I am sure:

30% peroxide - but needs to be bought by a business

 

[muddy42]

Personally I think the skull may still be wet and those marks will even out. Sunshine helps even out the colour.

Also 24 hours might be a bit long, your peroxide has penetrated the skull and started to break it down to a powder. I leave 12% peroxide cream for a 3 or 4 hours at most - plus I redistribute the cream with a paint brush half way. You are only trying to remove the yellow brown colour from the surface. Time and sunshine does the rest.

 

[VSS]

Personally I think the skull may still be wet and those marks will even out. Sunshine helps even out the colour.

This ^^^
Leave it in the sun for a bit, and then reassess.

 

[Mac78]

I have had similar results as a beginner. I am boiling a head later today as it happens. I was wondering, after seeing some Safari videos on YouTube that strayed into trophy prep, whether covering the cleaned skull in salt for several days prior to bleaching will help draw out moisture and fats? Failing that, just avoiding impatience and allowing a few weeks for it to dry out thoroughly pre-bleaching?

The other problem I think is that domestic peroxide, even the 12% which seems to be the strongest generally available, is just not strong enough for the job?

This would work I am sure:

30% peroxide - but needs to be bought by a business

Concensus seems to be, bleach whilst still wet.
Ive followed lots of threads and blogs that suggest the 12% hair dye is perfect. Perhaps they're not all created equally?

 

[Mac78]

Personally I think the skull may still be wet and those marks will even out. Sunshine helps even out the colour.

Also 24 hours might be a bit long, your peroxide has penetrated the skull and started to break it down to a powder. I leave 12% peroxide cream for a 3 or 4 hours at most - plus I redistribute the cream with a paint brush half way. You are only trying to remove the yellow brown colour from the surface. Time and sunshine does the rest.

Noted.
It's a nice head, for me anyway, so I'd rather not bugger it up anymore with excessive whitening.

 

[Andyquadra]

Concensus seems to be, bleach whilst still wet.
Ive followed lots of threads and blogs that suggest the 12% hair dye is perfect. Perhaps they're not all created equally?

Once boiled, keep it wet. Wrap in kitchen paper and soak in 12% peroxide. I find the paper towel helps keep and even coating of the peroxide. Leave 24 hours and wash clean

 

[HonestJohn]

It’s not dry yet

 

[NoIDeer]

As above, that will look good when it's dry.

 

[Mac78]

Patience and UV it is.

 

[Mac78]

Interestingly the head has lost weight since the application of peroxide. As the head hasn't dried out, one can only assume the peroxide has broken down the collagen.
611grams vs 591grams post peroxide.

So if weight was a factor for medal classification, perhaps peroxide bleaching(or at least prolonged)isn't such a good idea if you want to retain weight?

 

[ChrisWill184]

Interestingly the head has lost weight since the application of peroxide. As the head hasn't dried out, one can only assume the peroxide has broken down the collagen.
611grams vs 591grams post peroxide.

So if weight was a factor for medal classification, perhaps peroxide bleaching(or at least prolonged)isn't such a good idea if you want to retain weight?

As soon as you take it out of the water to start it drying out it will lose weight. At least 10% from wet to dry with the majority of it going in the first few days.

And as said before, it is just drying out so the peroxide colour will come once it has dried.

 

[Mac78]

Bright sunny day here and voilà!