last years buck boiled and almost done! what do you think so far?

[nachesboy72]

last year was my first buck! i finally learned to just be patient and not get myself done if i dont get a buck the first day! anyway this was my first time boiling a head, i finally got motivated and decided to go grab my head and just get it over with! im excited to finally be able to get it into the house soon and not smell like all hell! anyway let me know what you guys think. as far as i know the only thing left to do is get the last bits of crap off the skull and then rub it down with bleach and get it white 

[jrebel]

did you boil it with the hair on??  Never seen that before, how did it work?

[fly4fish]

That is nasty if that thing still had hair on it after a year. I did my sisters once after a month and it was gross. I comes out a lot better if you put it in the pot right away.

[jrebel]

I rarely have time to do mine right away...so I place mine in the freezer (head horns hair).  When I am ready and have time I will take it out and let it sit for a day.  I skin the head and then boil.  I have never seen it boiled with hair on?  Doesn't mean it is wrong....I just have never seen it that way.

[HornHoarder]

I cleaned one up for a friend once with the hair still on it. He had let it sit for about a year, before I got it. There was no way I was getting the hair off without boiling it. I was suprised how well it came off after a little boiling. It was extra stinky, but did get a nice euro mount.

[Michelle_Nelson]

That skull looks like hell.  Its not even close to the whitening process. 

And you don't use bleach to whiten a skull.

[nachesboy72]

the hair was almost falling off after about an hour off boiling, the rest i just scraped off fairly easy. it did stink a little but honestly it was not un barable. and like i said this is my first one and first time doing it on my own. i have helped but never done the full process on my own.. so yes it may not turn out perfect but it doesnt hurt to learn does it?  and every skull in our house as been bleached to be whitened and they have turned out just fine. maybe not as well as paying money for them but this is no trophy why not try? im proud of it for my first time 

[boneaddict]

I bleached tons of skulls nachesboy.  NO its not the best method, but it works fine to x amount of standards.   Some might find them closer to natural than a pure white skull.   Just like the sinus bones.   There was a time when I cleaned them out with a coat hanger.  MANY natural skulls do not have them anymore.   Its what you want out of it.   I havent learned everything yet and am still enjoying the process.   Enjoy your trophy.   There are several threads on here that might help or might have examples of many different opinions and results.

[nachesboy72]

before the bleach and after the bleach. i think it turned out 10x better then what is was in my pictures from be boiling it this morning. i let it sit in bleach, and scrubbed it down a little in about an hour or so all together i think it looks great. the people that were actually curious about how it would turn out and not rude about it how do you think it turned out? its fine for you to tell me you wouldnt do it this way or not a fan of how it turned out just dont be rude about it please. cause me personally am very happy with it 

[boneaddict]

cause me personally am very happy with it 

That's whats most important.   

[JLS]

Congratulations on your first buck.  Did you use borax for the boiling?  If not, it will help degrease the skull when you simmer it.  Also, hairdresser's peroxide will be easier for you to bleach it out with.  You can make a paper mache type wrap with paper towels and the peroxide gel.  Let it sit, then rinse well.

Nice job, be proud of your trophy.

[JJB11B]

Looks Great! last time I tried doing that I set it on the side burner on the BBQ to dry and the dog ran off with it and chewed the skull down to the skull plate. Could have saved a lot of time if she would have done that right off the bat.

[blindluck]

I do skulls as well, my process is to skin the head remove the lower jaw and eyes, I then simmer to low boil with dish soap, change water once half way thru. once i am satisfied and all the meat is removed i mix 40 volume developer and basic white bleach powder bought at a beauty supply store. Mix to a paste consistancy brush it on thick wait a day rinse off. they turn out bright white just like the professional beetle cleaning. I would show pics of my skulls but i cant figure out how to post pictures. I also learned the fresher the skull the better they turn out, the longer they are in the freezer they tend to stain deeper into the bone. Happy skull cleaning.

[troyspinetar]

That skull looks like hell.  Its not even close to the whitening process. 

And you don't use bleach to whiten a skull.

Wow!....Really? 

[Michelle_Nelson]

I guess that did come across as being rude.  Sorry I was 1/2 asleep when I made that post.

[fly4fish]

Turned out pretty well considering what you started with. The upper jaw fell off like mine typically do. I usually fish them out and glue them back on when everything is finished; looks a lot better with them on there I think.

Definitely worth the work!

[BOWHUNTER45]

There is a couple ways to do it but I think if you want one done the way it would look the best would be using beetles ...boiling and all that stuff has no room for error especially if you want it to look good as it could possibly can be ....But other than that you done O.k for trying to do it yourself ...congrats on the buck 

[PolarBear]

I do skulls as well, my process is to skin the head remove the lower jaw and eyes, I then simmer to low boil with dish soap, change water once half way thru. once i am satisfied and all the meat is removed i mix 40 volume developer and basic white bleach powder bought at a beauty supply store. Mix to a paste consistancy brush it on thick wait a day rinse off. they turn out bright white just like the professional beetle cleaning. I would show pics of my skulls but i cant figure out how to post pictures. I also learned the fresher the skull the better they turn out, the longer they are in the freezer they tend to stain deeper into the bone. Happy skull cleaning.

I macerate but use 50 volume peroxide and Basic White 2.  They come out mighty white.

[PolarBear]

Just for reference, this is the difference between boiling and bleaching and maceration and peroxide.
 Boiling and bleaching:


Maceration and 40-50 volume peroxide and Basic White 2:



Maceration and peroxide.

[Michelle_Nelson]

Boiling and bleaching:

The yellow in the forehead is grease that has seeped into the bone due to the heat from the boiling.  If left there it will turn a deeper yellow and the longer it sets the harder it is to get the color out and get it white.  Not to mention the grease is much harder to get out.

[blindluck]

Where do you get 50 volume peroxide and is it expensive?

[Knocker of rocks]

Where do you get 50 volume peroxide and is it expensive?

See cautions
http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,135974.msg1785001/boardseen.html#new

[dscubame]

I prefer the natural bone color over the unnatural "bleached" white look.  Good job.

[chinookie23]

polarbear your showing off your trophies now  ;)i hope you know  i am totally joking  anyway awesome comparison of the different ways the mounts turn out. BTW awesome tropies you habe there too..

[Michelle_Nelson]

I prefer the natural bone color over the unnatural "bleached" white look.  Good job.

If you want a more natural bone color then after you whiten the skull let it soak in several changer of warmwater for several hours.  This dilutes the peroxide.

[Michelle_Nelson]

Where do you get 50 volume peroxide and is it expensive?

50 Volume Hair Developer is 15% peroxide.

[blindluck]

Thank you for the tip, I have always done the simmer then peroxide method and my skulls are nice and white but I want to perfect it and maceration sounds like the way to go. Thank you

If anyone can share with me how to post a picture I would be truly thankful. I'm going nuts trying to figure it out!!

[Tall Timber]

I boil my skulls the day I get home. after 6 to 8 hours I use a pressure washer to finish the job. Then I mix some bleach and water and let the skull sit overnight. It works great.http://hunting-washington.com/smf/Smileys/default/thumbsup.gif

[blindluck]

Does anyone know if 50 vol developer and basic white works as well as high strength peroxide like 30 or 40 percent.

[YoterHunter]

just watch how much bleach you use . it makes the skull real brittle

[huntnphool]

You might consider getting it dipped, they turn out pretty cool.

[Rainier10]

Looking at the OP first picture the nose is gone, did that fall off during the boiling or is this a dead head from Idaho?

[Duckhunter14]

 

That skull looks like hell.  Its not even close to the whitening process. 

And you don't use bleach to whiten a skull.
[/quote

http://hunting-washington.com/smf/Smileys/default/yeahthat.gif]

Message me and I can give you some pointers. With a little guidance you can make it look 100 times better than that and keep the integrity of the nasal bones which look like you broke/boiled off. Take a look at Michelle Nelsons thread on doing a European mount. It's very informative.