Boiling euro twice?

[PsoasHunter]

Has anyone ever boiled a skull twice? The first boil on my elk was in a pot too small. I thought I could get the meat off the back of the skull, but it's proving difficult. I have a bigger pot now,  but worry about the skull maybe getting brittle if I boil it again. Any thoughts on this?

The first boil was 3 hours about 2 weeks ago.

[phildobaggins]

I've "boiled" a skull like three times before, but I never actually boil them. Just a hot simmer basically. It did weaken the skull a little bit, but a little super glue on those nasal ridge lines was good and it's been on my wall for three or four  years haha. I'd do it again for a short bit to loosen it up and then pick at the flesh and then simmer again in clean water to get the oil out.

[Bullkllr]

I can say that if you boil a skull too long you can damage some of the thin inner nasal bones. Teeth also, but they're easy to replace. The heavier bones would be hard to damgae. You probably would never notice the inner bones unless you look inside.

I wouldn't say I have enough experience to know how long is too long. Probably couldn't go too wrong by keeping an eye on it through a combination soak/heat without actually boiling it real hard as Phildo suggested.

[jrebel]

I was told by a taxidermist.....8-12 hours in a heavy simmer (not boil...but just below boil) with good amount of dawn dish soap in the water....and the meat will just fall off.  I was telling him how I did it and he laughed and said don't do that anymore.....boil, pick meat, boil, pick meat, repeat till clean 6-8 hours later.  He said I was working to hard and damaging the nasal bones that way. 

You will be fine boiling it a second time.  Use dawn dish soap and don't "boil"....also have patience. 

[mcrawfordaf]

I did this guy twice. First time with dawn and the second time with oxi clean powder. No noticeable weakening of the bone.

[jrebel]

I did this guy twice. First time with dawn and the second time with oxi clean powder. No noticeable weakening of the bone.

That's a pretty cool skull.  Was his nose noticeably bent when he was alive? 

[KP-Skagit]

I had a euro that got away from me and I flat boiled all out for about 30 minutes. The nose bent like that and actually broke. The connective tissues in the nose contracted like rubber bands. I tried splinting it back and simmering to see if it would correct and it didn't.

I ended up using stainless wire in the nasal cavity to piece it back together. It looks good enough high up on the wall.

[mcrawfordaf]

I did this guy twice. First time with dawn and the second time with oxi clean powder. No noticeable weakening of the bone.

That's a pretty cool skull.  Was his nose noticeably bent when he was alive?

It was a dead-head I found with most of the meat missing. It was bent like that when I found it, not from the boil.

[CamoDup]

You will be fine if it's just a simmer. You don't ever want to have your pot on a rolling boil... it's too hot and will damage the nose pieces. My process is this.. Add in a few squirts of dawn dish soap and get the water to a simmer. Simmer the head in there for about an hour or so and pull out to check and if the meat is somewhat easy to pull off. If it is I'll start pressure washing the meat off but being careful not to hit the antlers with the pressure washer because it will discolor the antlers. After I have most of the meat off and the brain out I will put it back into the pot for another simmer. Keep repeating this until it's all clean. Once all the meat is off, clean out your pot and add in water and a few bottles of hydrogen peroxide and heat to a simmer again. Make sure the antlers are wrapped with tape and suran wrap because the peroxide will lighten the antlers. Add in your skull and let it sit for another hour or so. Pull it out and let dry. Look up White Bone Creations on YouTube. He explains this process and it's super easy but messy. I can have a euro done start to finish in about 4-5 hours. 

[NRA4LIFE]

I use powdered borax (20 Mule Team) in the boil.  The meat turns to jelly and it helps degrease it.

[Magnum_Willys]

Oxiclean + Dawn and I didn't even need hydrogen peroxide - though for ultra white get the hair dressers 40 stuff off amazon or local hair stylist.

[fowl smacker]

You will be fine if it's just a simmer. You don't ever want to have your pot on a rolling boil... it's too hot and will damage the nose pieces. My process is this.. Add in a few squirts of dawn dish soap and get the water to a simmer. Simmer the head in there for about an hour or so and pull out to check and if the meat is somewhat easy to pull off. If it is I'll start pressure washing the meat off but being careful not to hit the antlers with the pressure washer because it will discolor the antlers. After I have most of the meat off and the brain out I will put it back into the pot for another simmer. Keep repeating this until it's all clean. Once all the meat is off, clean out your pot and add in water and a few bottles of hydrogen peroxide and heat to a simmer again. Make sure the antlers are wrapped with tape and suran wrap because the peroxide will lighten the antlers. Add in your skull and let it sit for another hour or so. Pull it out and let dry. Look up White Bone Creations on YouTube. He explains this process and it's super easy but messy. I can have a euro done start to finish in about 4-5 hours.

My exact process, I do about 15-20 skulls a year between friends and family.   Always turn out great.

[PsoasHunter]

Thanks for the advice and tips guys, it's going back in the pot.

Also, thanks for providing the correct recommendation on boiling vs simmering:  I don't boil them, I keep it at a low simmer also but realize the confusion my wording caused. Thanks!

[Ricochet]

I did this guy twice. First time with dawn and the second time with oxi clean powder. No noticeable weakening of the bone.

That's a pretty cool skull.  Was his nose noticeably bent when he was alive?

It was a dead-head I found with most of the meat missing. It was bent like that when I found it, not from the boil.

Nascar buck, really good at left turns. 

[bugs n bones]

When you boil a skull your cooking the grease into the skull and degrading the bone

[jrebel]

When you boil a skull your cooking the grease into the skull and degrading the bone

Other than beetles....which are unrealistic for everyone to use, is there another method you would suggest.  The Maceration process is down right nasty....and off the table for this guy.      That almost cost me my marriage one year. 

[mcrawfordaf]

When you boil a skull your cooking the grease into the skull and degrading the bone

A rolling boil maybe - but a simmer renders the fat it does not cook it "into" the bone.

[buglebuster]

Buy a fish tank heater and a bucket and never worry again. Also, you are never really degreasing a skull when you simmer in blue dawn dish soap, a proper degrease will take around 3 weeks at 100-120 degrees.

[Lingcod]

Do yourself a favor and get a set of picks from Amazon or harbor freight. Cheap and eally helps with the meat on the back or the skull. 

Also, simmering twice will not hurt anything.

[jshay]

We do a few skulls a year and I’ve found that a pressure washer works the best after light boil.


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[bugs n bones]

When you boil a skull your cooking the grease into the skull and degrading the bone

A rolling boil maybe - but a simmer renders the fat it does not cook it "into" the bone.

hence the reason I said BOIL

[Alchase]

Be advised, boiling the skull in the kitchen, 
may get you in trouble with the missus. It took a week to get that nasty smell out 

[NOCK NOCK]

So for the pressure washer guys......how do you do that without making a massive mess and wearing it?

[millerwheeler]

So for the pressure washer guys......how do you do that without making a massive mess and wearing it?

Bibs and rubber boots

[millerwheeler]

White bone creations on YouTube has so many great videos showing  how it’s done and easily I use his process with boil and pressure wash then bleach and always turns out great

[millerwheeler]

Here is  another with same process his YouTube videos use  make sure you tape antlers tight and no open flame hits the antlers , I have boiled some
Several times and always had great results

[bugs n bones]

Buy a fish tank heater and a bucket and never worry again. Also, you are never really degreasing a skull when you simmer in blue dawn dish soap, a proper degrease will take around 3 weeks at 100-120 degrees.

👍

[fowl smacker]

So for the pressure washer guys......how do you do that without making a massive mess and wearing it?

You WILL make a massive mess AND wear it!

[bugs n bones]

Here is  another with same process his YouTube videos use  make sure you tape antlers tight and no open flame hits the antlers , I have boiled some
Several times and always had great results

all the nose cartilage is gone ? How is that great results ?

[Gobble Gobble]

I wish I had saved the head of my sons first deer he shot last weekend. Went out with the trash on Tuesday. I'd like to have cleaned it then do a spray paint hydro dip. Watched several YouTube videos on how to do it today. I think they look cool.

[millerwheeler]

Here is  another with same process his YouTube videos use  make sure you tape antlers tight and no open flame hits the antlers , I have boiled some
Several times and always had great results

all the nose cartilage is gone ? How is that great results ?

Of course if you want to keep the nose cartridge Beetles are the way to go when I take out the soft tissue crap it just slides right out and still looks great for me saving whatever a euro cost these days . I do agree the nose stuff inside looks cool when done with Beetles but not everyone spends 200$ every time they want one is all

[fowl smacker]

Here is  another with same process his YouTube videos use  make sure you tape antlers tight and no open flame hits the antlers , I have boiled some
Several times and always had great results

all the nose cartilage is gone ? How is that great results ?

You don't want the cartilage to stay, you'd like the fine nasal bone to stay if possible, but definitely not a deal breaker by any means for me.

[jackelope]

How long do they stay white and stink free when you just boil them? Or just simmer them? Whatever the word is. How do you degrease them? A short time in a simmer might get the meat off but it’s not getting all the grease out.

[Rutnbuxnbulls]

I simmer in dish soap for an hour on, pick crap off until carpel tunnel sets in, repeat until it’s pretty darn oil free. Pressure wash a bit to get brains and nasal cleared. Careful if you wanna retain the olfactory structure which is difficult without beetles.
Clean water simmer again with disinfectant like baking soda and maybe a cap of bleach to start whitening. One it’s spic n span I let dry and paint in a paste of hydrogen peroxide and baking soda or that hairdresser stuff 40 works great. Use old toothbrush inside and out to kill anything especially smells. My wife has an excellent sniffer.

Anyway, when I can’t get them really clean, I do what is pictured. This was a nice deadhead I found while pheasant hunting Palouse. I couldn’t get it perfect so I ended up painting the entire skull and then the kids helped me detail out. Got another couple I did like this they turn out good and the wife let’s them in the house. Totally sealed with coats of paint. Use tinfoil while simmering and never let bases touch  water.

[millerwheeler]

How long do they stay white and stink free when you just boil them? Or just simmer them? Whatever the word is. How do you degrease them? A short time in a simmer might get the meat off but it’s not getting all the grease out.

I soak it in oxi clean / dawn for couple weeks to degrease then boil . Mop and glow coat when done and I have ones from 5 years ago when I started doin my own and all white as when I did them  and always smell free I don’t play when it comes too that lol