Want to do a euro with an old dried sheep skull - help?

[lokidog]

A neighbor gave me a cool sheep (domestic) skull, but it has been quite dried out.  What is the best direction to go for me to get this thing cleaned up? 

Thanks

[Huntbear]

am following this one...

[sirmissalot]

Yuck. He does have cool horns though.

I'd try to sweat the horns off and macerate it. That hardened hide will soften up and eventually come off but you may need to help it a little... If its just sitting there those horns may pull off if you give it a shot.

[cooltimber]

I have done mine ,submerged in a pot.get a burner plate--not in the house----.fill with water and add 10% colorox. make sure u cover the horns--antlers with tin foil..cover pot and boil 4 ever how long it takes too. about 2 days the eyes and brains will fall out...----do not boil to long as the skull will get brittle.

[Bean Counter]

Bleach will also make it brittle 

[huntergreg]

I use a turkey deep fryer pot. fill it up with water. add dish soap and bring water to almost a boil. let it sit for a bit then take it out and start cutting off the skin and flesh. Then back in the water when there is more that will not come off. Just keep repeating the proses.  It might take awhile but it is doable. Do not use bleach.

[Michelle_Nelson]

How old is the skull?  Is the skin completely dried/mumified?

[PolarBear]

Completely cover it with water in your bath tub, drop in a submersible aquarium heater, set it at 98 degrees and let it soak for a week or two.

[Michelle_Nelson]

I almost peed myself! 

[cooltimber]

like I said--do not boil -4 -2 long.

[RG]

I almost peed myself! 

 

[sirmissalot]

I have done mine ,submerged in a pot.get a burner plate--not in the house----.fill with water and add 10% colorox. make sure u cover the horns--antlers with tin foil..cover pot and boil 4 ever how long it takes too. about 2 days the eyes and brains will fall out...----do not boil to long as the skull will get brittle.

Abosulely do not use bleach. And do not boil for 2 days...

The only way I would boil it is for a short while, enough to get those horns to pop off. If you can get them off the skull it will make life a lot easier for macerating, and degreasing.

I think I see maggots, maybe that head isn't as old as I first thought.

[lokidog]

Completely cover it with water in your bath tub, drop in a submersible aquarium heater, set it at 98 degrees and let it soak for a week or two.

Uh, yeah, thanks alot.  I'll let WEATHERGIRL take this one up with you.   

I do not like boiling skulls and generally try to skin them and let nature take its course.  This has worked out well in the past on deer.  However, this does seem like it is mummified, the brains may be gone already.  I think the guy said it had been sitting up on his roof last summer.  I have not taken a really close look at it.  The horns seem to be pretty solidly attached.