How to do a European Mount. . . Maceration.

[Michelle_Nelson]

What did you put in the water to boil the skull?

[luvmystang67]

The only thing I put in that water to boil the skulls was water (and the skulls of course).  Is that really the issue?  I could've painted them an ivory color right after the boil and been happier with myself than i am right now...

What did you put in the water to boil the skull?

[h20hunter]

Stang.....sorry that went to crap for you. I was going to shoot you a text about 30 minutes ago....I got distracted playing Temple Run 2.....if I knew you were in such pain I would have skipped the text and called.

Not to make it worse but post some pics.....sounds like it is a little rough.

[Michelle_Nelson]

Stang,

The only thing that stands out is the boiling.  I have put boiled skulls (brought in to me to finnish) in Dawn Dish Soap and water for months and never had a problem. 

That is just odd.

Honestly can't help you with this as I have never run into this problem before. 

I'll tell you what.  Give me a call sometime.  I have an idea that may allow you to display your antlers on another skull.  Something fairly easy that you could try.  I just don't want to spend the time to type that much. 

[grundy53]

Definitely boiled too long. My dad did the same thing a couple years ago and ruined a couple deer skulls. Over boiling them makes them VERY brittle. They seem fine at first then turn absolutely brittle.

[bobcat]

Sure am glad I'm having Michelle do mine from last year. I'd surely do something wrong and ruin it.

[PolarBear]

For those who are hell bent on painting skulls that they have messed up, use what is called "bass belly white".  It is basically plain white with a tiny bit of yellow ochre.  It is much closer to real bleached bone color that ivory or plain white.   

[Michelle_Nelson]

Good info to pass along polar bear PolarBear.  Though I doubt most are going to buy an airbrush to use the paint. 

Though when on the rare ocation I need to wash an area with paint because of a discoloration or something I actually start with Superhide White and add Bass Belly White until I get the desired effect. 

[PolarBear]

I know a guy who mixes it and paints it on with a brush then wipes it off.  The amount that get's in the pores is just enough to "fix" the color for the most part.   It looks okay.

[cevan]

Michelle / others,

Thank you for all of the information provided in this discussion.  I have used this information to macerate (with aquarium heater), degrease (in Dawn & water with an "adjusted" aquarium heater to get temp up to a steady ~118 F), and whiten (with 3% hydrogen peroxide), my wife's November 2012 deer.  I am VERY happy with the results.  Thank you!!!

[grundy53]

I know it has been awhile but when I took my elk skull out to dry I got busy and forgot about it  . I decided to put the peroxide on it tonight. I am very pleased how it turned out. All of the details and sinus cavities are intact and it was already very white. The pictures are before I added the peroxide. The dark speckling is from dirt (it has been sitting out for awhile) it brushed right off. I will updated after the bleaching is done.

[elk247]

Nice job Grundy, I had a taxi friend do my last bull. I was a little worried the beatles would eat the velvet but they left it alone. I will be doing my own euro mounts in the future. Thanks for the info everyone.

[grundy53]

Just got done skinning and prepping my Idaho whitetail head/skull tonight. It's ready for maceration. I figured I would revive this thread for anyone who has a skull to clean.

[Michelle_Nelson]

What's up with the staining under the bur on the elk?  Is the antler leaching blood? 

[grundy53]

I'm not sure. I don't remember. But those pictures are before the peroxide.

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