U.S. Skull Hunter

04/01/2025

Antler Ring Tip: Use a drill bit that is slightly smaller that the inside of your ring diameter to core out the ring. Saves a lot of time! In this case I used a hole saw for a ring that I will be using stainless Damascus core.

03/20/2025

Carved this western theme for a friend. I was going for a leather saddle look :)

03/11/2025

Making good progress on this one! The purple is wisteria flowers

03/10/2025

The secret to great inlay is great carving! This one I carved with a 4000 and inlaid with copper. I think it works great with all the line work of the design as well.

The design was custom from . The design is of the two ravens from Norse mythology named Huginn and Muninn. The "how to" video is also up here https://youtu.be/KQBw30BsG2k?si=9lXS7syieYrZbI9o

03/08/2025

Eagle feather carved on a deer skull with a #108 inverted cone burr from Dremel

03/06/2025

Bisected view of a turkey skull

01/27/2025

Not sure you have thought about it, but, animals loose their baby (milk/deciduous) teeth too! Seems obvious but I kinda forget about that sometimes. Have you ever found a pets lost milk teeth? It's a cute surprise :) Anyways, I carved this open dentition beaver skull (and stained with walnut husks to highlight the teeth within the skull) to show the milk teeth being pushed out by the molars. This is one way to age an animal but I'll save that for a different post. Another interesting thing to note is how the molars are diametrically angled to grind against the top and bottom. If you know more beaver facts let me know in the comments

12/28/2024

Working on the carving the lettering on this deer skull and it's looking pretty good so far!

11/23/2024

Well, I had an idea, and once something gets into my head I can't get rid of it till I try it out :D I tried to catch the essence of a flatfish skull made from redwood. Not 100% I did, but I still like him :) I did try and make the eyes a bit more wonky but my drill bit didn't comply. What do you think

11/18/2024

Minimalist crane skull carved from redwood with brass for the sclerotic rings. Some birds have extra bones in their eyes called sclerotic rings which help shape and support the eyes. Made this one for a coworker. I have a habit of assigning animals to people based on their demeanor, character, etc. 😆

11/14/2024

Well my "polka dots" are looking more like just rows of dots haha. Might look a bit better in the end though. Trying new things and pushing myself a bit on this skull. My goal isn't perfection, just to do better :)

08/08/2024

08/01/2024

"Credit belongs to the man who strives valiantly" a quote from Roosevelt I am integrating into a deer skull carving. I am trying for a mix between an Art Nouveau and Minimalist design on this one! I miss making art so very much. I'm just paying bills at this point but working again towards a future filled with more art and family :)

03/16/2024

New video up on YouTube! You can watch it here https://youtu.be/dVPLxXxaLaY

03/05/2024

Glow rings are always fun to make. Made from Elk Antler

02/02/2024

New Video up on YouTube! I show what books are available on the topic of bone carving and some highlights for each. You can watch it here https://youtu.be/lbEr0f0GwF8?si=MUfwcVNWDe-ajiPz

01/31/2024

Sad news about the Resp-O-Rator. I spoke with the inventor/maker of this genius respirator last night and he said he is no longer making the product. Due to material price changes because of covid it became unfeasible. I would love to see someone buy the rights and start making them again (material prices may be back to reasonable by now). Jim Duxbury (the inventor) apologized that he no longer made them and I am sure would be open to keeping the brand alive. Just a thought for someone out there :)

01/22/2024

Let's chat about whitening skulls. The skull on the left has been cleaned (via maceration) and degreased. The skull on the right has been cleaned (via maceration), degreased, and whitened. Both skulls have been properly preserved. The whiter skull is not better preserved than the off white one. Point being that making skulls more white than they are naturally after being cleaned is purely preference

😲😲😲 did he just say that!? Haha yes. I like white skulls too just like anyone else but it is not a necessary part in the proper cleaning process. Disinfecting skulls with hydrogen peroxide is a great practice but extended periods submerged in peroxide leading to oxidation/whitening is not a must

Using peroxide to help break up grease in a skull is also an option. If you have a skull with some stubborn grease, rotating between dish soap or ammonia and hydrogen peroxide can help the degreasing process

A great thing about cleaning skulls properly is that once the skull is cleaned and degreased it does not take much to get it a bright white. The two skulls in the photo shows this. The skull on the right was submerged in half water and half 3% hydrogen peroxide (like you can buy in the store) for 3 days. No high volume peroxide, no boiling, and only $2 worth of peroxide.