Have you thought of applying for help to a whaling museum such as at
Mystic Seaport?  They have a whole history of prepping fresh whale
carcasses on their books after all.

Further, I beleive the SF Academy of Sciences has a modern mounted and
articulated Minke whale.  Perhaps they might give some pointers about
where to get more info.  http://www.calacademy.org/

In addition, doing a quick search on Alta Vista, I found this site about
the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences which is prepping a couple
of whales currently, as well as mentioning Dr. Paul Nader, owner of Os
Company, (no relation to omega squared, right?) who seems to specialize
in whale prepping.  Perhaps you can contact the museum for more
info:http://museums.mdmi.com/naturalsciences/9041997.htm

-Betty Cunningham

oz wrote:
>
> Hello
>
> I am looking for information regarding preparation of recently aquired
> bone for display.  Any articles or information or contacts which any of
> you could pass on or provide citations for would be most appreciated.
> I am a student working on a project  on the different ways of curing and
> preserving whale bone and baleen, and am having a hard time in that
> nearly all I can find is bone of a purely archaeological nature ...
> however, Paleontology is the first place I thought to start asking
> questions, then forensic science and museum studies, please forgive me
> if this is the wrong forum, perhaps you know of one more appropriate?
>
> Is there a difference in the final density of a cured bone of a juvenile
> v: an adult in mammals?  With the amount of residual oils in whale bone,
> what would be the most effective way of removing the oil while
> maintaining strenth?  Is there an effective way of preserving baleen
> over a period of time at all?  Are there certain methods required that
> are different for a pedimental display versus a suspended display, or
> can all those decisions be made at a later date?
>
> Currently the carcass that I am focusing on for my project has been
> rendered and the parts are in various burial locations and beetle farms,
> I am also interested in the different methods involved here that any of
> you have had experience with.  Which are most efficient, etc.  In
> initial cleaning of the bone, is it detrimental or beneficial to wash in
> detergent, weak ammonia or an Hydrogen peroxide wash as both have been
> suggested to me.
>
> Are wood epoxys really used to provide structural support?  Would the
> same kind of epoxies viable with 'new' bone?  Woudl you suggest a light
> coat of eposy with an outer coating of a renewable wax?  Or what kind of
> treatment?  Is there any literature out there that is somewhat readily
> avilable to the public at large?
>
> Thanks in advance for your consideration and help.   Anne Hall