How to do a European Mount. . . Maceration.

[bow4elk]

You should go on fear factor, Michelle

Damn, she works around it; she doesn't EAT it!  Michelle?  Tell me you don't stand around with a Bud Light gnawing at these skulls behind the scenes...

[Pathfinder101]

I hope you are charging this person double

I'm glad she's not charging me double    This appears to be my dad's bull.  Was shot on the first day of our Idaho hunt, and unfortunately couldn't get him back here and into Michelle's hands until we returned.  So, not much we could do.

Thanks for posting Michelle.  Interesting to see the progress, and sorry about the mess.  Next year we'll shoot for a last day kill 

The condition of the skull was deffinatly understandable.  Skulls are really not that big of deal when it comes to maggots.  They tend to clean faster. 

Now when I get capes with them than we have some talking to do 

CoryTDF did a spike elk that looked about like that a couple of years ago.  We forgot the head up at elk camp, and I had to run back up and get it.  THis was a Sept archery hunt, and it was pretty hot.  I threw the head in the back of the truck and drove it to Cory's house.  I saw him go from gagging to wretching uncontrollably just cutting the body hide off the head.  The only way he got through skinning out the head was by jamming big globs of Vick's Vaporub up his nose...  

[Michelle_Nelson]

You should go on fear factor, Michelle

Damn, she works around it; she doesn't EAT it!  Michelle?  Tell me you don't stand around with a Bud Light gnawing at these skulls behind the scenes...

No, I don't drink. lol

[Todd_ID]

OK, so I'm learning a bunch on this thread.  I had the skull in the bucket with the heater for 8 weeks.  I took it out and rinsed it off.  It looked pretty darn clean.  The bit of nasal work on the tip of the jaw is still there, but I imagine it'll come off soon enough.  I've had the skull in the dish soap for about 1.5 weeks now and will get it out soon.  I think I need to change the solution again to see the final gains in degreasing.  Now it's off to the hair salon to find some goofy peroxide........... Wish I was a bleach blonde....

[ridgefire]

has anybody heard of picking the skull as clean as you can and then putting it in a plastic bag hanging it from a tree and making a couple holes in the bag to let the flies in skull will be clean in a couple weeks not sure if it the right way to do it though. curious if there is a way to fix my bear skull i think i must have bleached it when there was still some grease on it because it came out kinda yellowish

[Michelle_Nelson]

Did you use bleach or peroxide?

[ridgefire]

i used some peroxide i got from the beauty supply store 40% if i remember correctly

[Michelle_Nelson]

Well I would start by putting 1/8 cup of Dawn Dish Soap in 3 gallons of water with a fish tank heater for 3 weeks.  Change the solution every 2  days.  After 3 weeks rinse the skull and put it in clean water 24 hours.

Make sure you check the skull everyday for the first few days.

Than pull it out and let it dry for a week and see if you see any grease.  If you do back in the degreaser.

After 3 weeks of dawn I normally put my bear skulls in Acetone for a couple months.

You can try this if you wish but after putting the peroxide on it you do it at your own risk because I have never done it after doing the peroxide.

Though the dawn and water should neutralize the peroxide.   Especially after 3 weeks. 

[bearhunter99]

I have heard that Simple Green works great for degreasing, do you know if it works better that Dawn or whether the Simple Green degrades the bone or anything?
Thanks

[Michelle_Nelson]

There is no telling what it will do to the skull.  No one that I knoe uses or talks about using it.  Dawn, Ammonia, or Acetone ase the 3 common ones.

Some mix the dawn and ammonia.  Others use straight acetone (mainly to finish Bear).  That is after a dawn/water for several weeks.

[ridgefire]

thanks

[huntnphool]

Dawn, Ammonia, or Acetone ase the 3 common ones.

I cant see Simple Green being any more damaging to a skull than acetone.

[Michelle_Nelson]

Dawn, Ammonia, or Acetone ase the 3 common ones.

I cant see Simple Green being any more damaging to a skull than acetone.

Well I am not going to give him or anyone on this site the big thumbs up and the go ahead to try something I have not used, personally. 

It's not what the Simple Green alone will do that I have a hang up on.  It's the combination and potential reaction to what ever chemical they used in the boiling/cleaning process.  Also the peroxide they use to whiten it.  You never know when or what kinda reaction you will get with mixing 2 chemicals. 

It may be nothing more than changing to color of the skull.  It could potentially cause a severe reaction resulting in injury or the loss of a skull.  You may not see any reaction right away.  It may eat away at your skull slowly and after several years it becomes brittle and crumble away.

Am I being overly cautious?  Yeah probably, but it is not my personal skull that could be ruined. 

I use Dawn/Water and Acetone.  I use the acetone straight and the Dawn/Water mixture.

[Pathfinder101]

Well, I've gotta admit it.  I stopped by Michelle's shop the other day and took a look at the skulls she's working on.  I was very impressed.  I will probably give the maceration technique a try next year.  I never thought those delicate nasal passage bones were cleanable.  Michelle does the best skull work I think I have ever seen.  Great work Michelle, and it was nice meeting you....

[Michelle_Nelson]

Thanks Pathfinder I appreciate the kind words!  It was also great meeting with you the other day.  Hope your drive home was uneventful?

Let me know when you try the maceration thing and if you have any questions.  Feel free to call if needed.