Advice needed on building a deer skeleton

[XH29N0G]

A neighbor found an old deer skeleton that donated to us. 

I am thinking about a centerpiece for living living room. 

Any suggestions on the best way to do this? 

What is the best way to connect bones? 

What sort of pose would be best? 

Any advice on the best way to convince my wife that it will be a good thing and interesting my kids in the project?

[skip68]

    

This is a new one on me.   Any pictures?     

[Troy]

I am not married but if you manage to convince your wife to let you put a deer skeleton in the living room I will be greatly impressed! I am no help on your questions though.

Troy

[Indygenerallee]

Most have the bones drilled and wired into a certain pose. I watched a show on it once and they used beetles to clean all the flesh off the bones then they soaked them in bleach. It would be pretty neat but a lot of time and energy goes into making it look right.

[moparguy01]

get it boiled down and sealed off first. Thats what they do when they display skeletal remains. Most of the ones I have seen are held together with metal clips, and have small pin holes drilled into each bone which were "wired" together with some sort of a clear line. I do not know what kind of line. After it is all held together I know they usually use another coat of sealer over the top. Ever notice at museums the skeletons have a sheen to them? its the coating. I was told that they do that in case the animal the bones came from had any sort of diseases which could become airbourne sealed in??? I am by no means an expert, I was just told that, and it does make sense to me.


I know my wife would never allow a skeleton in the house. She doesn't even like the head mounts.
\

I just saw the other post and wanted to add, if you use the beetles, pay to have it done. Those damn things stink to high hell. I had a skull and horns done that way and when i picked them up i thought i was going to lose it when they opened the door to grab it.

[XH29N0G]

Right now the skeleton is in a bucket (so not very photogenic). 

The first response my wife had was that the pose should be like in bambi running from the fire which gave me hope, but about 15 minutes ago she said she did not want the bucket of deer bones in the dining room.  A little hard for me to read right now.

[polywideblock]

woman just don't appreciate "man art"

[XH29N0G]

get it boiled down and sealed off first. ......

Do you have any information on specific sealant?  I can do some research too, but any information from other sources will help.

Thanks.

[adauto]

but if you manage to convince your wife to let you put a deer skeleton in the living room I will be greatly impressed!

Troy

Oh he11 ya! 

[mrsskip68]

Not that i'd allow it in my home, my advice is to call a Natural History Museum! Im sure they would be happy to advise! Post pics!

[moparguy01]

I honestly do not know what type of sealant they use. I was just told that they did in fact use a sealant. I'll try to get ahold of a buddy of mine who does taxidermy. Maybe he would know?

[Tilar]

I would think it would be easier to kill another deer and let the buzzards and ants clean it up.   

[XH29N0G]

The skeleton is pretty clean at the moment.  I may do a peroxide treatment to it, but I will look into sealing. 

thanks