Maceration problems

[blindluck]

So here we are, been over a month and this is the progress of the maceration, not going very well!

[PolarBear]

Wow!  I put DoubleJ's son's heads in on Tuesday and the meat is already falling off.  I doubt that it will take much more than a week to get them both free of meat.  It looks like you had a buch of meat on it when you put it in.     I always trim it down as much as I can, make sure the eyes and all that fat in the eye sockets and around the back of the head are gone and take the brains out.  Did you throw it into the water while it was frozen or something?  After a month you should just be soaking up grease and brine with zero meat on it.  I also replace the water with hot water from the house instead of cold.  Refreshing with cold water can slow down the process. 

[blindluck]

I didn't put it in frozen, I just skinned the head pulled the eyes. I didnt trim any meat. this is my buddies blacktail been in over a month also I have a mule deer that has been in six weeks that isnt any further along. Next time I will trim most of the meat. I think im going to up the temp to 97ish, just dont want to kill the bacteria.

[sirmissalot]

That meat looks pretty loose to me, I'd try shaking the loose stuff off, hose it and most should fall off... It looks like it's going well to me. Bump up the temp, I don't think you're going to kill the bacteria.

[blindluck]

well, its finally starting to work I think. still meat tight that I cant pull off with pliers but getting there. I'd say 50% meat free. Iam macerating at 99 degrees.

[blindluck]

well its been another 3 1/2 weeks and shes just about done, there is still some meat connected to the ear canal that refuses to come off, even scrubbing with a brush and my tools it still hanging on for dear life. 9 weeks total, What a deal!

[sirmissalot]

Degreasing is always the pain in the butt to me. Lots of water change outs and it will probably take about a month.

[blindluck]

I hope AJAX works 1/2 the price of Dawn.

[sirmissalot]

I've had better luck with Dawn, you really shouldn't need much with one head.

[PlateauNDN]

Just seen this but it looks like progress is coming along fine.  I followed michelles advice and did everything to a "T" and so far has turned out nice.  I haven't finished the degreasing process yet but have plans to re-start that very soon.

I had trimmed as much meat off as possible before I stuck the head in water and ran my temp at 93-95 with water changes every 3 days avg.  just stick with it and you'll get there.  I'm staying with it so i can have that sense of accomplishment with it.

[blindluck]

I think my main problem was not trimming the meat, I just skinned pulled the eyes and put it in the water. I thought it would all rot off within two weeks but it took 9, I've been degreasing for two weeks. I just put the head in baqacil oxidiser 27% peroxide for 8 hours and it still has a yellow tint, will degrease for another week or two then re whiten.

[blindluck]

Here it is, finished it a few days ago turned out good in the end but took 2 1/2 months. After degreasing i soaked it in baqacil oxidizer for two days.

[sirmissalot]

Looks perfect  nice work

[Dhoey07]

Just wanted to say that this thread was very helpful for me.  This was my first time doing a euro using any method and i think it turned out pretty good.  Gland this thread is around 

[blindluck]

very nice, did yours take 1/2 as long as mine?