How to do a European Mount. . . Maceration.

[Michelle_Nelson]

I havn't been rushing the process.  Been busy working on Rugs.  It is in the degreaser right now and I will pull it out this week and get picks and start the next process.

[bucklucky]

 

[WACATHUNTER]

So I am ready to start my degreasing process.  Do you just mix a dawn/water solution and let it sit for a week??? Thanks
WACAT

[Michelle_Nelson]

How much water are you planing on using?

If you use a 5 gallon bucket go ahead and fill the bucket til it covers the skull.  It can cover the antlers it won't hurt anything.  If you put a stick on top of the bucket and prop the horns up the skull will set a bit lower in the water.  Like I did in the picture on the first page of this topic during the maceration step.

So 5 gallon bucket of water with about 3/4 cup dawn water.  Wash your fish tank heater and put it in the degreasing water.  You will change this solution every 2 days for a couple weeks.

[WACATHUNTER]

Sounds good, I need to take some pics up on this thread for a DIY's Maceration proof, Thanks for everything Michelle.  I still have one inthe redone broth due to the disease, it looks like it is working this time.  I also just started an elk.  THanks again,
WACAT

[mossback91]

I need to get a fish tank heater.........I got a head in the freezer waiting........

[Michelle_Nelson]

Get the Stealth from PetSmart.  It's black with a red knobe.  i posted a link in the first post that shows a pic of it.

[Gearhead1940]

How is the degreasing going? Any updates?  Great thread BTW! Thanks.

[Michelle_Nelson]

The degreasing is coming along.  Stuborn spot on this particular skull so I put it in Acetone after sitting in clean water for 24 hours and drying.

[WACATHUNTER]

Here are some pics of my recent maceration project,  Thanks Michelle!


Just a little bacteria bath, what a fine smell!!!






Now a bath of Dawn to degrease in. 



I am bleaching 1 of them right now so will try to get some final pics up later.

WACAT

[huntnphool]

why so many of the same pic?

[WACATHUNTER]

CNTRL C on the wrong link, fixed it.

WACAT

[Michelle_Nelson]

How long did you degrease the Skulls?  What are you using to whiten?  Don't use Bleach.

They look good so far.  Keep up the good work. 

[WACATHUNTER]

Degreased for about 10 days changing water every 2 or so.  I am using the Peroxide you suggested 27%.  That stuff is a little spendy eh!
WACAT

[Michelle_Nelson]

The peroxide isn't to spendy.  You can use it for quite a few skulls.  I have 6 gallons of the stuff in varying stages of use.  The old stuff I will sometime add to the degreaser on non antlered game skulls.

Make sure you get all the white deposits off of the skull before you whiten.  I go over the skulls with a stiff tooth brush a couple time during the degreasing bath.

After the degreasing bath I'd have pulled the skull out and let it dry completely for at least a week to see if their is any more grease.  It will bleed out and make the skull look wet in areas.  If it does this back in the degreasr for another week.  Here is a photo of the deer I shot this year.  I took it out of the degreaser about 2 months ago and haven't had a chance to put it back in.  You can see that the grease on the top of the head.



The elk I would let go for at least another 10 days in the degreaser.

One thing i will mention is you may want to wrap a couple strips of paper towel around the nose of the deer and wrap electrical tape to hold the bones in position while they dry. 





You can also see the yellowing in the eye socket and bottom of skull.  That is grease!