Stabilizing bone

[triangleforge]

No, I'm not talking about anything medical, thankfully.

I'm looking to incorporate an already well-weathered elk skull into a metal sculpture, and I'd rather not have it disintegrate into fragments in a few years. It'll be fairly well supported and not subject to any loads, so I'm not that worried about breakage, more just structural decay & falling apart along the edges of the many individual bones that make up the skull.

Can anyone think of a good, paint-on or spray-on product that would reduce weathering effects and help the thing hang together a bit longer? It'll very likely be outside, so UV & water resistance would be good. I don't want to change the color radically, but some staining or darkening would be fine. I've got some good long-cure epoxies, but I'm not sure how they'll hold up to long term UV exposure.

 

[WarrenJ]

http://www.hightemptools.com/nelsonite.html

This stuff has a good reputation for stabilizing wood but I couldn't find out if it hazed in UV like epoxys will.  Something to consider would be a penetrating wood sealer like Thompsons Water Seal or a better commercial version. 

[SacDuc]

Go to your local taxidermy shop and feign interest in the craft. Pretend to be impressed with imperceptible nuances. The guy will tell you everything you need to know. Taxidermists are lonely, lonely men. Creepy. And lonely.

sac

[Mother]

fill the brain pan with epoxy

run pins from the bone into the new grey matter

[Grampa]

John Holmes pic in.....3......2.......1.......

[ducpainter]

I'd put urethane clear on it.

Use flat if you want it to keep the weathered look.

[herm]

Bondo