How to do a European Mount. . . Maceration.

[PolarBear]

But they look fake.  I wanted to mount an old 6x6 bull that I have kicking around on one of those fake skulls but they just didn't look right to me.    I'll stick with the stinky maceration.

[fishngamereaper]

I feel sorry for you guys..I used to do mounts this way, got tired of the mess. Now I just buy Mountain Mikes reproduction skulls. Easy, clean and no bad smelly....

Can you post up a few pics of how your mounts have turned up? Thanks.

Yep...check back tomorrow

[Lenvw]

I've used a mountain mikes skull kit, for some sheds, I think it looks fake too.

[bobcat]

You don't want to deal with the stink, have a taxidermist do it, either by maceration or beetles.

Personally I wouldn't want a fake skull. I don't know why. But I just like having the real thing.

[enaz]

Question for ya michelle! I have a couple skulls that I simmered with dawn soap and water. Then dumped out that water and simmered in hydrogen peroxide and water. Is it too late to do the degreasing process? They look great right now but I don't want  the grease to bleed out later. Also I have a skull my girlfriends dad did for her a couple years ago and the grease has bled through badly. Is there any way I can degrease it still? Maybe soak in your dawn mixture or acetone? I sure wish I would've read this thread before now.

[Michelle_Nelson]

Lenvw,

Put some gloves on and pull the skull out. Pull all the meat off you can.  If the nose cartlige dosn't pull out easy don't force it.  Just throw the meat in the bucket.  Then put the skull back in.  Just add enough water to keep the skull covered.  Every couple days check the skull and pull off loose meat.  Once all the meat is off you can start degreasing.

[Michelle_Nelson]

enaz,

Yeah you can degrease them in Dawn dish soap and water.  It's going to take a while because you have baked the grease into the skull when you boiled it.

[fishngamereaper]

A couple of the Mikes mounts and one real one. The Mikes look real enough for me without the hassel of whole process. Also most of my real ones I have tend to flake skull material over time. Seems Im constantly cleaning up white flakes...Ill stick with the Mikes.

[enaz]

Thanks michelle ! I'll let you know how it goes. I have one skull that I froze after skinning because I didn't have time to boil. I think I'll try the maceration process this time.  Mike makes a bracket for mounting skulls to burls and plaques called "the positioner" . the angle is adjustable and they worked pretty good. They also hold the skull out a little from whatever you mount them on.

[Lenvw]

Thanks for the info Michelle.

[Pathfinder101]

A couple of the Mikes mounts and one real one. The Mikes look real enough for me without the hassel of whole process. Also most of my real ones I have tend to flake skull material over time. Seems Im constantly cleaning up white flakes...Ill stick with the Mikes.

I have two skulls that have flaked.  Both of them I bleached with actual bleach and that stuff is brutal on bone.  Since switching to hairdresser's peroxide I don't have that problem anymore.

[sirmissalot]

The flaking is usually from overheating the bone (boiling). Bleach is very hard on the bone and will make it flake and even dissolve.

[Lenvw]

When doing the peroxide soak, do I use straight peroxide, or do I dilute it?

[Michelle_Nelson]

What strength are you using?  I use 30% and I don't dilute it.  I only soak for about 12 hours to start. 

Than I put the skull in hot water (as hot out of the tap as you can get it) for a couple hours.  Than pull out and let it dry for several days.  If it isn't white enough put it back in the peroxide for another 6-8 hours.  That is my limit using 30% peroxide.  Other wise your skull will start to soften.

[db70]

Just figures, I find out about a better method just after I'm almost finished boiling the skull of the first deer I have taken!  This is a great thread, lots of useful information. I was wondering which brand of heater is recommended. The link in the original post isn't valid any longer.

Thanks,
Dino