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| THE SMALL MAMMAL MANUAL MANUSCRIPT A Step by Step Guide to Preparing and Articulating Small Mammal Skeletons Vol. 9 |
| This manual is on the techniques for the articulation of mammals smaller than a wolf, using a lynx and a sea otter as primary examples. (85 pages) $34 (plus shipping) (Manuals are 8.5 X 11 inches, soft bound with spiral binding.) |
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| PROMISING NEW METHOD FOUND IN THE SMALL MAMMAL MANUAL MANUSCRIPT AND FEATURED IN THE BONE BUILDER'S NOTEBOOK |
| For small mammals and birds we've been working on a new technique that may be a good alternative to beetles for preparing small skeletons. Someone was quick to point out that it is unlikely that this is really a new technique, as people have been working with skeleton cleaning for a couple hundred years. However, I have never seen anything in print on this technique and one of the main ingredients (concentrated hydrogen peroxide) wasn't produced much before WWII even though it had been first discovered in the 1880's. The process uses concentrated hydrogen peroxide to oxidize flesh. This so far involves soaking small animal carcasses in a strong ammonia solution for ten days and then in baths of 15-20% hydrogen peroxide solution until the flesh is gone, but before the bones become disarticulated. The articulated skeleton is then removed and posed until it dries. Experiments as to the exact steps, times and limitations are still being conducted. I will add details here as the process gets fine-tuned. The major advantage, if this works, is being able to prepare very small skeletons without using environmentally hazardous chemicals or having to deal with the nauseating smells of decay. There is a brief write-up about this method in the Small Mammals Manual, and a more complete write-up in the Bone Builder's Notebook. |
| Here's my first skeleton prepared by this method; a Northern Saw-whet Owl. The entire skeleton weighs 5 grams, the same weight as an American 5 cent piece. |
| URL: http://www.theboneman.com Boneman Last Update: January 24, 2008 copyright 2005 by Lee Post illustrations by Lee post |
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The Small Mammal Manual Manuscript
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