Where will just clean a skull?

[Pete112288]

I got my very first nice bull elk. I want to do a euro mount. But I really want to do most of it myself. Does anyone know a taxidermist realitively close to Vancouver WA that would just clean the skull for me? Nothing else besides clean it. And what it might cost. Thank ya much

[BeerBugler]

You tube it, super easy. Do your own in about an hour, looks as good or better. White bone creations has good videos.

[buglebuster]

If you want to drive to Yakima, I can do that for you.

[jackelope]

You tube it, super easy. Do your own in about an hour, looks as good or better. White bone creations has good videos.

I don't want to be "that guy" but if you don't degrease and then peroxide or bleach or whatever, it won't look "as good or better" than a pro job. At least not for long. All that stuff takes a lot longer than an hour to do.
 

[Dhoey07]

IMO don't take it somewhere that boils it, you'll end up with an inferior product than if you use beetles or maceration.

[Brushcrawler]

Just try doing it yourself. It’s not that hard. Check out this thread:
http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,206560.msg2747944.html#msg2747944

[Boss .300 winmag]

Anyone ever pressure wash one to get the outside hunk off?

[PastorJoel]

Anyone ever pressure wash one to get the outside hunk off?

After spending WAY too much time trying other methods, yes.  It worked really well, as long as you don't mind losing some nose cartilage.  Boil, then pressure wash while wearing FULL rain gear (so its easier to wash the brain matter off of yourself).

[Tjv28]

Anyone ever pressure wash one to get the outside hunk off?

Yes. It works great. Skin it, boil it in water and arm & hammer laundry detergent, pressure wash, boil again in peroxide/water mix, rinse, done. The laundry detergent decreases and turns the remaining meat into gelatinous material. Comes off like meat off a well cooked fish

[runamuk]

You tube it, super easy. Do your own in about an hour, looks as good or better. White bone creations has good videos.

I don't want to be "that guy" but if you don't degrease and then peroxide or bleach or whatever, it won't look "as good or better" than a pro job. At least not for long. All that stuff takes a lot longer than an hour to do.

And boiling will break the structure of the bone down so while it works it's not the best way.

[buglebuster]

The amount of terrible info in this thread is amazing do not boil the skulls. Even if you are going to do it yourself. There is much better options and it will only cost you roughly $40. Another thing is you cannot degrease a skull in an hour, or a day, or hardly even 2 weeks. That white bone creations guys skulls look good freshly whitened but I'd love to see them in a few months or year. His method absolutely doesn't degrease the skull, and he breaks out all the nose bones. Says he doesn't like them and you can't get the skull clean without taking them out. That is false.

[boneaddict]

There’s the pro way and the redneck way.  It all depends what kind of final product you’d like.   I have a ton of redneck skulls, and it is a fun project.   

[PlateauNDN]

The self maceration process was fun at 1st.........Ive now decided that one try was enough and will leave it to the professionals.

Sure it cost a few bucks and time but in the end, it's all worth it.

[PolarBear]

If you want it to look nice, clean and mighty white DO NOT boil or pressure wash.  Maceration or beetles will get it clean without destroying the bone and proper de-greasing is paramount, otherwise in a couple of months it will turn yellow around the temples, eye sockets and such.

[NRA4LIFE]

I'm with Bone.  I've done probably 10 of them the "redneck" way and they turned out great.  A little bit of work, but worth it.  If you're wife is squeemish about the "boiling skull stench", make sure you do it outside, when she's not home too.