#bone projects

This is exactly what it sounds like.

Awful deathly smells, wiggly maggots and dripping oozes.

If you have not read Step one, I highly advise that you to. That step will prepare you for what the sanitary rules are for bone collectors. This is not limited to what else might be around sanitation wise, so please be careful when handling dead matter.

Things you will need:

Rubber Gloves (Surgical Grade)

Mask ( respirator or surgical mask)

Wear clothing you don't mind getting a bit dirty. We always do out best to not come into contact with anything dead, but things do happen when in the field.

A Small to Medium Cage that you can use to let the Body decompose without any other animals interfering.

Recommended:

Vick's Vapo Rub: If you rub a small bit underneath the nose, it will distract your smell away from the body's Interesting aromas.  This also helps you focus on the task at hand a keep you from getting too nauseous on the job.

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When you harvest Bones after letting Nature do it's thing, There will still be tissue on the bones that will need to be removed.  Before removal, you must let nature remove what you can't, Safely. Decomposition may take from a few weeks (Small animals) to Months (Medium to Large animals).

Removal of tissue with bacteria is called maceration.

The " Boil" Method requires you to Simmer the bone until the skin and tissue fall off the bone. The method name is inaccurate and if you Boil the bone enough, you can cause your bones to become greasy and very difficult to clean.

I am however using the "Cold Water" maceration method as Jana explains on her blog: We are not literally using cold water. It actually means that you leave bones submerged in room temperature water for a few days to a few weeks, depending on how much Bacteria is needed to break down the unwanted tissue. Changing out the water can cause your bacterial breakdown 'process' to take longer than expected. Remember that the smaller the animal, the less time it takes to macerate or separate from itself. You can tell when you are nearing the end of the maceration process when the tissue has been dissolved and or floating free from the bone. Please be sure to put this outside or in a ventilated area where you will see the container every day. This will urge you to check it constantly, allowing you to decide when the maceration process is finished for your creature.

I live In a warm area of the US and the warmer the weather, the better chance your bacteria will survive and do the work for you.

I have seen other bone bearers incubate water to remain at a constant warm temperature when the weather is not helpful. Colder climates can hinder the maceration process greatly.  If you live in a colder area, I suggest a small fish tank or aquarium to be used, though the smell will be quite dreadful. For that reason we recommend you keep anything incubated in a shed, or area away from the general living space.

A thermostat will also be needed. From various sources I have learned that Aquariums can be heated from 72º  to 82º Fahrenheit. This will keep the bacteria happy and help you Macerate the bones effectively and safely.

Disclaimer:

I originally used BoneLust's Guidance for the correct maceration process recently since my last failed attempt, and I highly recommend that you look at her Blog FIRST. This little how-to is somewhat collected from several tid-bits that I experienced first hand, as well as the Internet, but my Methods had dramatically changed since I saw Bone Lust.

I am extending her knowledge so that if you are interested, you may see her blog for yourself.

 I must promote her for being so Helpful and Direct with my bone collecting and cleaning steps.

Thank you, Jana Miller!

Her Tumblr page is also here.

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Just a reminder: These are techniques that I have come to discover over time and it is in no way the be-all-end-all way to finish bones and skulls but it is definitely the best that I have found as of yet.

Before You Start:

Keep your Cookware and Maceration-ware separate. Don't even wash them together. This can get you Sick! This includes tools like toothbrushes and even bathtubs. Do not do your projects anywhere  where you eat or bathe. This can expose you to unknown diseases. 

Wash your hands whenever you are in contact with the Bones and dead tissue.  Before and After, every time.

Wear Gloves. Cheap rubber gloves are not tough enough to endure the abuse it will receive when working on cleaning bone projects. Surgical grade gloves are best and can be found online and at certain Grocery stores. If you don't have the thicker rubber gloves,  (As mentioned by Jana) "Double up".

Use a Mask. There is always a probability of an airborne disease as a result from a decomposing body. You can use a surgical mask or respirator. It might also be helpful to rub a small amount of Vick's just under your nose to help alleviate the decomposing smell. This allows you to work at your own pace without having to rush yourself. Rushing through a project could invite mistakes, injury, and possible contamination.

Do what is most comfortable to you. If you feel that you don't have a stomach for a specific step, don't subject yourself to something that makes you feel super uncomfortable. Respect all life, and nature will do most of the dirty work for you. Most people cannot stomach the early steps of Decomposition and the Maceration process. If you find that the real work to procure a skull or a few spine bones is too much for you, it might be best to wait 6+ months for the bones to be weathered and cleaned by the earth. 

Never Use Bleach or Hair Stylist's Peroxide. These chemicals are harsh and will definately damage your bones. Bleach is known to eat away at the material long after bleaching and is advised against. Hydrogen Peroxide is the best to use for the smell, bacteria, and also whiting of the bones. Do not let the bones soak in the Peroxide longer than advised. This can cause the peroxide to eventually eat at the bone as well.

Note: If you do decide to let nature run it's coarse, please remember a few risks this might imply:

Animals may run off with your bones. Some like to chew on them as well.  If you decided to Bury the bones and let them decompose that way, be sure to dig a deep Hole (3-4 feet). This should be deep enough so that any animal that comes across the covered hole won't smell and dig the body up.  A large Rock helps to block any creatures from investigation.

Moss may grow over time on the bones if your area is prone moss growing on stone, fallen wood, and buildings. In forests this is very common, especially when left out for more than a few Months.  Remember that Moss is a living thing and once claiming a bone, is difficult to clean, and Should be left alone.