Just received our shipment of horns and capes from our hunt in Lemco last September. The Kudu horns have large black lettering with our names on the horns. With the horns being so porous the ink seems to have penatrated into the horns. We have tried cleaning it on one small area with non acetone polish remover. With only limited success. Does anyone have a suggestion.

Mike

I'd damn sure let my PH/outfitter know about the problem!! Unacceptable!!

KB1,

As you stated the horns are porous.
To remove the ink one would therefore need to liberally soak them in a sutable solvent.
If I may I would suggest a moderate brush to get the solvent into the material .
As a solvent I suggest trial and error of ever better and expensive or available organic solvents

I dont think you would damage the horn with solvents.

I would try Acetone first ,because its readily available, better probably would be benzene , toluene which might be hard to come by for you.

You can try laquer remover

use a tooth brush and allow some time to dissolve the dye

Best of luck

Used to work in a chemical plant where we made MEK (methyl ethyl ketone). MEK leaks would remove the magic marker (as well as paint) from steel and aluminum pipelines. Toluene and acetone would do likewise. Would be more of a problem on pourous surface. Good luck.

Regards,
hm

When I hunted Matetsi in 2002 most of my skulls had a red marker writing on them. I was pissed to see it on my Heyena skull. I was able to get alot off with acetone. Also try some Goof Off or stain remover as used in drycleaning. My taxidermist also soaked the skull in a hydrogen peroxide solution. It's mostly gone now.
I think that the marker on the skulls is common in government areas of Zim. I'm glad I shot my leopard on ranch land. I'd ask your taxidermist for advice, he will likely need to do some staining of the horns if he can't get it all off. I would definately let your outfitter PH knonw as well.

Let your taxidermist sort it out, That's what he is paid for.

I would definitely call my outfitter though and let him know there is a problem, with the skinners or whoever using permanant maerker on trophies.

Thanks for all the good advise. My wife and I both shot a Kudu so I am sure that was there way of letting us know who's was who's. They were very similar in size. But on each horn they spelled our first and last names in bold capitol letters across them. Bizarre. A simple L for my wife Linda and an M for me would have sufficed. I will try some of the ideas and let the taxidermist do the rest. Thanks again Mike

quote:

Originally posted by hm1996:
MEK leaks would remove the magic marker (as well as paint) from steel and aluminum pipelines.

Sorry to hear about your horns.

I used to be a flight engineer in the US Army. MEK will remove the sripes from a zebra. We used to use it to clean precision parts prior to shimming, but stopped using it because it was so harmful to humans; I wouldn't recommend using it on anything you were interested in keeping in a natural state.

I could be wrong, but from my experience, I think you will end up with translucent kudu horns if you use MEK. That is fine if you don't mind having them died black, but if you are going to do that skip the middle man and have them dye over the magic marker.

Dumb question, but have you tried ordinary soap and water just in the ink is a non permanent one?

Also, whatever you try, I would try it first on the reverse of the horns so if it does cause a problem, it will be out of sight when the mount is on the wall...

Regards,

Pete

Ahhhhh, that's Africa!

Rich Elliott

quote:

Originally posted by KB1:
Just received our shipment of horns and capes from our hunt in Lemco last September. The Kudu horns have large black lettering with our names on the horns. With the horns being so porous the ink seems to have penatrated into the horns. We have tried cleaning it on one small area with non acetone polish remover. With only limited success. Does anyone have a suggestion.

Mike

Mike,
If all else fails try using bug spray to remove permanent marker. Its the best thing I've found for the job!

Goof-Off is toluene and is sold at Home Depot. Good Luck!

Another chemical that may or may not work is hair spray. It will remove ink on clothing.

As suggested call your taxidermist before putting a bunch of chemicals on your trophies. Who knows what they might do to your horns. If your guy is not a specialist in African mouints call my taxidermist. Ask for Tom Hardesty 1-406-782-0569 at Atcheson Taxidermy he has seen it all for over 25 years of dealing with Africa.

Mark

I was listening to a home fix it show yesterday and they recomended a product called Oops for removeal of permanent Magik Marker. I believe he said either the big box stores or Sherman Williams dealers carried it. I've never used it but they were quite positive that it would do the trick and said it could be applied with Q-tips with 2 or three applications necessary. Good Luck.

WHOA!

I don't see this as a problem, it's not like he used a device to cut it into the horn.

Some kind of acetone, paint thinner, or dry cleaning solvent will take care of this.

As for the outfitter that did it, I think it's a good idea. You got YOUR stuff back and not someone elses. It worked, quit whining and clean it off.

Very often simple alchohol will remove the majority of magic marker inks.
I am a commercial painter and I would not use MEK without heavy chemical gloves and a full air circulation mask. It is very nasty stuff and will absorb through your skin as radily as it permeates your lungs.
Most solvents will also do the same.
If the alchohol won't do it (multiple applications may be required) go to a paint store like Sherwin Williams and ask for the Graffittii remover towlettes they sell. That stuff is a magic elixir I use to take graffitti out of a variety of surfaces. OOps will also work but it sometimes leaves a white discoloration behind. It is like it bleaches the surfaces.
A taxidermist would be my first choice of a profession who could reinstill the natural color if there is a problem.
Frank

WD-40 might work and it will not harm the horns.

I second the suggestion for "Goof Off" sold at Home Depot.

Dave

olive oil and a ROUND stiff brush...

should take 2-4 tries, but it will all be gone, and they will look better, anyway

jeffe

plain old carburator cleaner in the spray can might work too.