Preserving Velvet

[BanburyStalking]

Hi

I have just shot a Roebuck in velvet. Although I have done numerous skull mounts before I have never done one in velvet. Any suggestions how go about trying to preserve it ??

Cheers

Tim

 

[bogtrotter]

Difficult but try wrappings antlers
In cooking foil make sure they don't
touch the water .
I have done lots but with varying success.

 

[HonestJohn]

done a few succesfully. boil as per above comments, wrap in tin foil. then white skull is bleached and finished, cut a small X in the very tip top of each tine and hang upside down for a couple of days to let the blood drip out..it will come out in coagulated drips, so you'll have to wipe off ad hoc. Then, put in freezer for 2-3 days, take out for half a day to defrost, put back in freezer, take out, freeze, etc. repeat this maybe over the course of 10-14 days and you will have a perfect 'freeze dry'. I've got bucks done like this from 20 years ago, and they are still as good as new.

one word of warning, as not treated with chemicals, they are subject to moth attacks, etc. if windows are left open in rooms where you store them

 

[@theroedeerguy]

I’ve tried preserving a few with varying results.
Now I just strip them of any velvet and keep them white.

 

[VSS]

Formaldehyde, I believe.

 

[BanburyStalking]

Cheers. I have had a go with boiling skull first with antlers protected in tinfoil then soaking antlers in formaldehyde but looks as if some of the velvet separating from them. Back to the drawing board ……

 

[Johno2486]

Try this...

JHT Supplies for Taxidermists and Taxidermy | Antler In Velvet Tan 500ml | K/C

 

[HonestJohn]

Shoot the ones you want to keep in May onwards

 

[Westley78]

Had good results with this

Velvet Antler Technologies | VelvaLok - Velvet Antler Preservative

VelvaLok is the ONE and ONLY velvet antler preservative on the market that sets, dries, and preserves natural velvet while getting rid of bugs. Just spray and walk away! Preserves velvet in 72 hours! Non-toxic and safe to handle - no special tools, needles, or harmful chemicals required!

www.velvetantlertechnologies.com

 

[Mick9abf]

I’ve done a few. Instead of tinfoil I wrapped tightly with clingfilm. Boiled and power washed as normal then removed the clingfilm and hung upside down in the garage (when I had one) with the window just cracked open to get airflow or in the log store. All the velvet remained intact.

 

[Lakey]

One of the biggest problems with velvet antlers is that they fade in any kind of sunlight. Best to keep velvet antlers in a sealed bag once done, and in a box with a lid. Any sunlight will eventually bleach the velvet almost white. My advice is wait a month and shoot them in hard antler.

 

[Rossco1!]

Same here cant quite master it, always seems to be a section comes off! Need to try covering them next time

 

[HonestJohn]

next time try the method I described above, if you want success that is

 

[Rossco1!]

next time try the method I described above, if you want success that is

 

[tim@tcs]

I just liberally soaked the velvet in meths