SHARK JAW PRESERVATION

[knot for shore]

I HAVE A SET OF MAKO JAWS IN THE FREEZER SINCE '03. NEVER FOUND OUT HOW TO PROPERLY PREPARE THEM EVER SINCE I DECIDED NOT TO HAVE THEM USED IN A FIBERGLASS MOUNT. DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY SUGGESTIONS ON HOW TO PREPARE THEM FOR JUST SIMPLY DISPLAYING THEM OUTRIGHT. I HEARD THEY SHOULD BE BOILED THEN SALTED THEN.....

ANY THOUGHTS WOULD BE APPRECIATED!!

[Deep C]

Time out! Do not boil, do not pass go...
Cut any remaining flesh off them... You could use a tooth bush with either diluted bleach or borax and just give them a touch up. Next get your seldf some paint stirring type sticks... Use one to prop the mouth open vertically. Use the other to keep them spread horizontally. you can salt them then put them where a bit of offensive smell won't bother anybody til they have good and dried out.
Some kind of spray accrylic, krylon, etc will get the Jaw part to shine... The teeth stay shiny and sharp on their own...
If you fel creative you could mount them to some kind of wood plaque...
At one time I had about 50 assorted jaws laying around but just kinda lost interest and gave them away. Now I just have a couple...

[knot for shore]

Thanks Deep. Somehow I knew I'd get an answer from you bro! Like I said, I was going to have my taxidermist use them in a mount that I never got done. And they're just sitting in my freezer. What kind of salt should I use?

[Capt. Brian Daley]

ya what deep said, but I just hang them in the tree in my back yard for a couple of weeks (6) let the bugs & bees do there thing, just use a stick to
keep the jawz open

[dirtyj]

I used to dip them in a bucket of bleach for a few minutes (helps eat up flesh and other stink making stuff) then put them on the roof for a few months.

They don't stink when done and have held up for 25 years.

[MakoMike]

You can also use peroxide, applied sparingly to get the last of the meat off. Was them well after applying the peroxide or it will start to eat at the jaws themselves.

[Captain Rich Adler]

You can get hydrogen peroxide at beauty supply houses very cheaply. Soak the jaws in a bucket of peroxide and use a spoon/ knife to scrape off the remaining flesh. After the jaws are clean, wash them in fresh water to remove the peroxide, then lay them on an eggcrate screen (flourescent light reflector) and use wire ties to secure both jaws every few inches. As the jaws dry they will sometimes twist, the wire ties will prevent that. Once they are dry (wait a week or two) you are good to go.

[Deep C]

Careful with the "Soak" the jaws get rubbery real quick and the teeth will fall out in short order if you go that route...

[knot for shore]

Thanks very much for the info! Have a great Christmas and new years!