preserving skeletons

[D-007]

What about using Polyurethane varnish to seal it? Maybe your local hardware store may have a suggestion to thinning it safely (for you and your tank inhabitants) wher you could then pour some into a bucket and then dip the skull into it.

Just throwing out an idea

 

[TheFishJunky]

I think polyurethane would peel over time being exposed non-stop to water.I will definitely figure something out.I may be able to add some thinner to the silicone but I would have to be careful it isnt gonna stay active in chemical stage or I'd kill everything in the tank.

 

[IITUFFTOBEATII]

well I read all about that epoxy resin and it has good reviews but alotta people say its a pain in the arse to work with.I also dont know how clear it is?I am gonna have to just thin out the silicone so I can brush it on and just quadruple coat it until I can get a good solid coat all around it.I need to search around more at some lfs's and see what I can come up with.

Epoxy/resin is difficult to work with when you are laying down fiberglass, by itself it is like a very thin paint. And west systems products are clear as crystal.

Polyurethane would also work but you would need a lot of coats I would think, could accomplish the same thing with just a few coats of epoxy/resin.

Your idea to use silicone will not work, for one thing, silicone is not clear, and second it cannot be thinned.

 

[necrocanis]

I think epoxy is the best way to go, but you'll have to make sure it's completely sealed or the skull will deteriorate over time. Preparing the skull will be difficult in it'self unless you don't really care what it looks like. There are epoxies made to encase items so that they appear to be trapped in glass. That's something to look into.

 

[TheFishJunky]

to make it appear to be trapped in glass would be really kool!Okay-I'll sway from the silicone idea and try the epoxy.I'll post pics when I get started and when finished.I am looking to do it with a blue fish or striper skull and they've moved out of my area for warmer places from what I've read lately but i am gonna try to go fishing this weekned anyway since i dont believe theyre all gone yet.It just hasn't been cold enough imo.I'll get back to this if I catch something on the weekend.