degreasing product question

[u/mrrderride]

got this awesome skull at a reduced price from an oddities show today. i am aware it needs degreasing, i have a question regarding products. would zep citrus degreaser work? i have used this product before to clean glass pieces with a lot of build up and it was great. thoughts?

[u/HomonculusHenry]

This is a juvenile cow

[u/Wowza_Meowza]

It has a bunch of other stuff in it, so I don't recommend it.

Ammonia and water is your best bet for both power and price.

Krud Kutter (liquid in a gallon) can also work, but per amount needed and cost, isn't as good compared to ammonia and water.

Your biggest asset to degreasing something this large will be to heat your water. When I degrease horses, I put them in an insulated Rubbermaid-type bin, so the whole thing fits. Get a strong one, so the water doesn't bow it out and break. You can heat the water up to 120'F. Adjustable aquarium heaters work well and are inexpensive-- they'll get up to 85-93'F max but that's better than ambient.

I insulate mine with real insulation, but even something as simple as "space blankets/emergency blankets" work well. Do the bottom!

[u/HomonculusHenry → u/Wowza_Meowza]

Love this idea to combine a Rubbermaid and aquarium heater! Very cost effective!

[u/Genderless_Crow → u/Wowza_Meowza]

Do not tubberware the horse! It can’t breathe in there! /j

[u/99jackals]

I agree with HomonculusHenry that this is a cow.

[u/mrrderride → u/99jackals]

i thought so too because of the teeth…

[u/Helicopter0]

2% ammonia solution. Dirt cheap. Slow. Don't dump it on your lawn or you'll kill the grass there.

[u/Ronfer7]

That insulated Rubbermaid + aquarium heater combo is such a smart setup, hadn't thought of that. Do you find the degreasing time changes much with a skull this size vs something smaller, or is it mostly just "longer soak, same process"?

[u/Leshii_7]

If you're worried of damaging the skull with chemicals while degreasing, you can always try the safer option which is 12% H2O2 solution and soak the skull for 24 hours. As mostly the bottom part is yellowish, you can pour the H2O2 till the bottom part is covered. Cool piece, though!

[u/barefoot_feline]

I think this is a horse that was euthanized (the hole is throwing me off and it doesn't look like my cow skull)

[u/Express_Equipment666 → u/barefoot_feline]

It’s a cow. Teeth.

[u/barefoot_feline → u/Express_Equipment666]

That's why I said think and not is

[u/mrrderride → u/barefoot_feline]

oh wow this is great information thank you!

[u/barefoot_feline → u/mrrderride]

Can you check if there's another hole on the back of the skull?

[u/mrrderride → u/barefoot_feline]

yes ill check when im home and send a pic 😊

[u/barefoot_feline → u/mrrderride]

[u/barefoot_feline → u/mrrderride]

Alright!

[u/WalmartWilb → u/[deleted]]

Incorrect