DIY Antler Mounts

I let it dry for at least a day, preferably with a fan on it.

Then you can apply the mop-n-glo, which dries pretty quick, but I still give it a day before covering it with the plaster/bondo, or whatever you are using to make the shape.

Did you do the second boil, or brush on, with whitening/degreasing agent? That will remove more of the smell. A lot of it will dissipate as the bone dries anyway, and if you let the meat rot on it, that may take a little longer.

By the time you get it all covered up, that should be gone. Again, just make sure to give it ample time to dry.

I've never noticed my antlers losing any shine, but they will anyway when they get a slight layer of dust on them. I wouldn't personally apply a coating to the antlers, it would make them far too shiny for my taste. If you have, or can get your hands on, a trash rack, you can experiment. But I wouldn't just brush it on your elk and hope for the best.

Hope all that helps!
Thanks, that does help! So you only coat the skull with mop and glo? I was under the impression that it gives just a light sheen that pretty closely matches what the antlers look like before getting washed.

For what I did, I only did a single boil with dawn (actually a simmer for several hours) and then the pressure wash. I have not done any degreasing as I'd wondered if it was necessary when it will be covered.

I'd thought of giving it a good saturation with acetone, maybe wrap a rag around the skull cap and keep it wet with acetone for a day. I don't think I want to submerge it unless I can get the bulk of the skull cap submerged without touchihg the antlers.
 
The skull plate will still be greasy after the flesh is gone. I would boil again with Dawn . Be careful about wiping the antlers off when they're hot. The color will come right off.
 
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