My Idaho buck euro mount

[DIYARCHERYJUNKIE]

Took along time to macerate this skull.  Then I used hair developer and powder to bleach it out.  Turned out sweet.  This is only my second euro.

[Hunter Dug]

Looks great.  One little tip after you get all done with it soak it in hot water, then place a few tight rubber bands around the nose and let it dry that way that will close up that gap and you will not have to use glue to hold those pieces together. 

[blindluck]

Yeah, the first couple I macerated took along time too, like 6 or 8 weeks. By turning up the heat to 95 deg it is only taking 10 to 14 days and ready for degreasing. I just did a couple lynx that were almost done by day 3.

[DIYARCHERYJUNKIE]

Thanks!  Yeah I think cause it took so long the separation was worse than it would have been.  The super glue worked good though.  I glued the teeth in and left the teeth colored rather than bleach them too.  I think I'll go with two fish tank heaters next time.  In the dead of winter its tough to get 90 degree anything let alone a five gallon bucket of water.  Anyone know how to turn the pics?

[blindluck]

you could use the hot water tank element and lower thermostat option which costs less then fish tank heaters and doubles as your degrease set up as well.

[Bean Counter]

"Take the time to do it right, so that it takes less time!"
 
 

[Hunter Dug]

Although the hot water tank element will get you the temps you need. It will also show up on your electric bill clearly.  Fish tank heaters are the way to go.  Would you rather run two aquarium heats at 200 watts each or a 1500 watt hot water heater element.  Kind of a no brainer.   

[DIYARCHERYJUNKIE]

I had a pretty big fish tank heater.  I don't know what watts.  It has always taken ALONG time to get all the meat off.  I skinned it out around the end of October 2013.  Had it in the bucket until last month....  I didn't remove the tounge until a few weeks after starting the maceration process.  The smell was, well it was BAD!  But I always get all the meat off in the end.  The new hair developer cream and powder mix really makes it white.  The first two pics are before I glued the split together.  The skull is still very intact and should last along time if I'm gentle on it.  I want to re bleach my blacktail from two years ago.  Ill post it up when its ready.   

[Hunter Dug]

During the maceration process it will not hurt to cover the top of your bucket with a plastic bag this will help keep the heat in; however do not do that for longer than a week or mold will grow on the antlers.  We can usually macerate a head in 3 to 5 days if it is prepped well with 2x 200 watt heaters.  We do around a 100 heads a year so it will take a while to get the hang of the process, and you will be able to whip them out in a more timely manner. 

[blindluck]

During the maceration process it will not hurt to cover the top of your bucket with a plastic bag this will help keep the heat in; however do not do that for longer than a week or mold will grow on the antlers.  We can usually macerate a head in 3 to 5 days if it is prepped well with 2x 200 watt heaters.  We do around a 100 heads a year so it will take a while to get the hang of the process, and you will be able to whip them out in a more timely manner.

Are you degreasing with the same set up and what temp are you degreasing at?

[DIYARCHERYJUNKIE]

I degreased at the same temp around 80 would have preferred 90 for both maceration and degreasing.  it only took two weeks max.  and very little grease came out of the bone afterwards.

[Hunter Dug]

I degrease and macerate at between 100 and 110 degrease.  I use and aquarium heater that I alter to get the temperature higher.   

[Bean Counter]

How exactly do you alter said aquarium heater? or more importantly: what is the functional purpose of the modification?

[Hunter Dug]

Place the heater at its highest temp, remove the knob, place the knob back on the heater at the lowest temp, and turn it back to its highest setting.  The functional purpose is to get a high temp out of the product.  I still get an adjustable temp, but at a high temp than the product suggests.  Bottom line is over the years I have used about every way possible way to heat water for degreasing.  This way has by far been the cheapest.  I can run 5 degreasing sinks with between 2 to 6 heads in each and only be using 1000 watts.  Where if I was using one big tank with a hot water heater element with a thermostat, I would be using 1500 watts for the same amount of heads.  The first time you get a 600.00 electric bill you start to rethink things