Any tips on what to use and the steps to take to clean the skull for a European style skull and antler mount? I have it fully skinned, now its just a matter of boiling and treating with chemicals. Any tips and advice helps. Thanks.
Send it to someone and have it cleaned by Dermistid Beatles. Worth every penny. Most Taxidermists will have a connection with someone.
Just boil in a pot. We use to use a turkey fryer, which seemed to work out the best. My taxidermist suggested using a hot plate to controll the heat better, and keep it at a lower heat, as not to over cook the skull, but I didn't have very good luck with that. Need to make sure you can be around for at least 8 hours to keep an eye on it if you go that route. Do not boil for a bit, shut off, and do over. This discolors the skull and makes harder to bleach. As for the bleaching process goes, we had best luck with peroxide. My taxidermist also suggested using hair bleach, which I also didn't have much luck with. That was probably due to having to boil several times. We have used camp fires, and camp stoves for heat as well. Just make sure and get it boiled out good the first time. Cutting as much meat off the bone cuts down on boiling time, too. I would suggest using peroxide for bleaching. Soak over night. Drop a rag in the peroxide to cover the top of the skull. I didn't have much luck with the taxidermist suggestions, but my first mistake, was not boiling it out right at first.
It depends how long you want to wait, but I usually skin mine out, get the meat off, and then put it in the freezer for the winter. When it gets to be June, I take it out and set it in a place where the sun or critters cant get to it and in no time flies and other bugs make a home out of it and have the thing eaten clean in no time. All that is left is to bleach it out.
My method is about 3 hours from full head to finished product. I boil mine for about 30 minutes, pick off the loose stuff, boil again for about 15 minutes, then use a pressure washer. Use the finest nozzle for best results, but you must take extreme care as it will cut you like a knife. I wear thick hog boots and never hold the rack with my hand near the stream. I always position the rack on concrete wedged up against a step or pole and turn it to get the angle I need. Takes about 30 minutes of good blasting to get all the sinus stuff out and every last chunk of membrane and cartilage off, but it works great. I have not found the need to bleach afterward, but that is a personal preference thing.
jrvs23, the black dark spots are from not degreesing good enough. Here is a great tutorial if you want to put in some elbow greese and have one done in 5 hours. http://www.taxidermy.net/forum/index.php/topic,125076.0.html
