Post by: ghosthunter on August 11, 2019, 01:18:20 PM
Bucket and water nothing else. Here it goes for better or worse.
Post by: ghosthunter on August 11, 2019, 01:19:49 PM
Post by: Bango skank on August 11, 2019, 01:23:38 PM
Post by: ghosthunter on August 11, 2019, 02:10:36 PM
Nothing but a bucket and water? How long does that take? It doesnt soften the bone and screw it up? I have a bobcat skull in the freezer, thinking of just burying it in the ground and letting bugs clean it for me.
According to the video four to six weeks, changing water every week and hosing off skull.
Post by: chukar hunter on August 12, 2019, 07:21:30 AM
I do all of my skulls every year and a handful of my buddies. By yourself a cheap fishtank heater. If you want to speed up the process, put a heat lamp next to it(but it's harder to regulate the temp and can get too hot). I've had skulls be fully clean in 7 days or less. When changing out the water, leave 1/3-1/4 of the existing water in the tub so that the bacteria growth/re-colonization is quicker.
Only issue I've ever had was degreasing and some minor antler discoloration on an extremely dark horned roasie. I was told to do the same process, but add borax to the water. You shouldn't have this issue as no antlers, but Kerosene also works.
Lastly, hope you've got a strong stomach and resistance to terrible smells. Process sure works great, but STANKY! Maybe a reason you should add heat to shorten the process and avoid the negatives of this process...smalls attract things you don't want messing with your skull or an angry wife/girlfriend.... good luck.
Post by: 7mmfan on August 12, 2019, 07:58:55 AM
Ghosthunter.
I do all of my skulls every year and a handful of my buddies. By yourself a cheap fishtank heater. If you want to speed up the process, put a heat lamp next to it(but it's harder to regulate the temp and can get too hot). I've had skulls be fully clean in 7 days or less. When changing out the water, leave 1/3-1/4 of the existing water in the tub so that the bacteria growth/re-colonization is quicker.
Only issue I've ever had was degreasing and some minor antler discoloration on an extremely dark horned roasie. I was told to do the same process, but add borax to the water. You shouldn't have this issue as no antlers, but Kerosene also works.
Lastly, hope you've got a strong stomach and resistance to terrible smells. Process sure works great, but STANKY! Maybe a reason you should add heat to shorten the process and avoid the negatives of this process...smalls attract things you don't want messing with your skull or an angry wife/girlfriend.... good luck.
:yeah: I started one and had to bail because it was so bad. Busted out the crab cooker, cooked it down over a few hours with a bunch of oxi clean, good to go. I do think the maceration technique is the next best for the bone after beetles, but I just can't have that thing stewing in my backyard that long.
Post by: boneaddict on August 12, 2019, 08:09:47 AM
Goodluck :tup:
Post by: n_mathews13 on August 12, 2019, 08:12:30 AM
Post by: Pathfinder101 on August 12, 2019, 08:33:19 AM
Bone came out beautifully clean, but wasn't worth it.
I went back to boiling. Done and clean in a day and ready for degreasing. If I were doing it as a business, this turns out the best museum-quality bone (as good as beetles). I don't need museum quality. Not bad enough to put up with the smell for a month... :twocents:
Good luck :tup:
Post by: ghosthunter on August 12, 2019, 08:59:13 AM
For me and my busy life. This method fits. The stink wont bother me too much. I have cleaned a few grease traps at work in my life.
My biggest issue is finding a place to dump the water in a hole where the dogs wont dig it up.
Post by: 7mmfan on August 12, 2019, 09:31:48 AM
I read a couple things about the heat. Seemed they said it caused the nasal passages to crack or split. :dunno:
For me and my busy life. This method fits. The stink wont bother me too much. I have cleaned a few grease traps at work in my life.
My biggest issue is finding a place to dump the water in a hole where the dogs wont dig it up.
Do you have a footing drain for your house that leads to the storm drain? That's where mine go.
Post by: Dhoey07 on August 12, 2019, 09:33:51 AM
Post by: ghosthunter on August 12, 2019, 12:09:54 PM
I read a couple things about the heat. Seemed they said it caused the nasal passages to crack or split. :dunno:
For me and my busy life. This method fits. The stink wont bother me too much. I have cleaned a few grease traps at work in my life.
My biggest issue is finding a place to dump the water in a hole where the dogs wont dig it up.
Do you have a footing drain for your house that leads to the storm drain? That's where mine go.
No ,But I do have a city sewer lid in the ally ;)
Post by: 7mmfan on August 12, 2019, 12:37:54 PM
I read a couple things about the heat. Seemed they said it caused the nasal passages to crack or split. :dunno:
For me and my busy life. This method fits. The stink wont bother me too much. I have cleaned a few grease traps at work in my life.
My biggest issue is finding a place to dump the water in a hole where the dogs wont dig it up.
Do you have a footing drain for your house that leads to the storm drain? That's where mine go.
No ,But I do have a city sewer lid in the ally ;)
:tup:
Post by: Brushcrawler on August 13, 2019, 07:37:23 PM
Post by: blindluck on August 15, 2019, 05:33:50 AM
Post by: blindluck on August 15, 2019, 05:38:49 AM
Post by: buglebuster on August 15, 2019, 06:04:40 AM
Post by: 7mmfan on August 15, 2019, 08:09:58 AM
Post by: ghosthunter on August 16, 2019, 11:53:57 AM
Post by: ghosthunter on August 16, 2019, 12:13:39 PM
Post by: buglebuster on August 16, 2019, 12:28:44 PM
Post by: Jpmiller on August 16, 2019, 12:47:40 PM
I read a couple things about the heat. Seemed they said it caused the nasal passages to crack or split. :dunno:
For me and my busy life. This method fits. The stink wont bother me too much. I have cleaned a few grease traps at work in my life.
My biggest issue is finding a place to dump the water in a hole where the dogs wont dig it up.
Do you have a footing drain for your house that leads to the storm drain? That's where mine go.
No ,But I do have a city sewer lid in the ally ;)
You want to talk about bad smells lol just make sure you do your best cousin Eddie impression should a neighbor or family member see you. :chuckle:
Cool thread
Post by: Ghost Hunter on August 16, 2019, 01:07:26 PM
Post by: buglebuster on August 16, 2019, 01:33:59 PM
Post by: buglebuster on August 16, 2019, 01:37:18 PM
Post by: Dhoey07 on August 16, 2019, 02:02:29 PM
Post by: ghosthunter on August 17, 2019, 02:57:06 PM
I dug a hole in a dirt area we had and figured to bury the water. Didn’t notice my wife had opened the upstairs window because the grand daughters had just come over.
Ages 3 and Six.
I heard grandma ask who dirtied their pants. Both girl taking the 5 th. Before grand sticks her head out the window and gives me “well talk later scow”
Not much change with the head. But it was frozen when I put it in there.
Rinse, clean water and a brick to hold it down.
Post by: 7mmfan on August 17, 2019, 05:21:17 PM
Post by: Jpmiller on August 19, 2019, 09:27:14 AM
Post by: lord grizzly on August 19, 2019, 10:06:53 AM
Post by: buglebuster on August 19, 2019, 10:19:36 AM
Why are you putting clean water in there? I macerate a bunch of skulls and the point is to have the bacteria in the water. Clean water is counteracting what your trying to do and making it take longer. Treat that think like your Ron co rotisserie . Set it and forget it
I agree, without heat the bacteria hasn’t even began to grow yet so changing the water out is pointless
Post by: bearpaw on August 19, 2019, 11:01:42 AM
Post by: ghosthunter on August 19, 2019, 12:21:02 PM
Why are you putting clean water in there? I macerate a bunch of skulls and the point is to have the bacteria in the water. Clean water is counteracting what your trying to do and making it take longer. Treat that think like your Ron co rotisserie . Set it and forget it
https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=maceration+skull+cleaning&view=detail&mid=D03CEF2F06C5139B6E56D03CEF2F06C5139B6E56&FORM=VIRE
Post by: Pegasus on August 19, 2019, 12:33:57 PM
Post by: lord grizzly on August 19, 2019, 02:20:47 PM
Why are you putting clean water in there? I macerate a bunch of skulls and the point is to have the bacteria in the water. Clean water is counteracting what your trying to do and making it take longer. Treat that think like your Ron co rotisserie . Set it and forget it
https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=maceration+skull+cleaning&view=detail&mid=D03CEF2F06C5139B6E56D03CEF2F06C5139B6E56&FORM=VIRE
Yeah I know what you’ll find online. But you’ll also find the opposite. I do a lot of these, think about what your trying to accomplish. Bacteria, every time you add new water and likely water from your tsp with chlorine in it your going backwards. Use water from an irrigation ditch or pond and put an aquarium heater in there. You’ll see results a lot faster
Post by: ghosthunter on August 19, 2019, 06:31:58 PM
Too bad you started so early. This would have been perfect for Halloween. Maybe you should stick it in the fridge to delay it for a few months. Park that bucket by the door and let the fun begin.
Hoping to be finished by Oct. with the maceration part.
Post by: ghosthunter on August 27, 2019, 11:40:43 AM
Post by: Ghost Hunter on August 27, 2019, 12:46:35 PM
Post by: HillHound on August 27, 2019, 01:28:57 PM
Too bad you started so early. This would have been perfect for Halloween. Maybe you should stick it in the fridge to delay it for a few months. Park that bucket by the door and let the fun begin.That would be great. When I was growing up there were many years that our trick-or-treaters were greeted by a fresh Buckhead or two sitting on the front porch. My brother and I always hoped we would get one that last day or two of the regular season just so we could gross/scare some little kids. But if I think back on it I think we got more compliments than anything else. Probably not too many compliments coming from the smell of that maceration bucket though.
Post by: ghosthunter on September 01, 2019, 08:53:39 AM
Post by: ghosthunter on September 02, 2019, 02:36:12 PM
Tissue coming off front. Eyes gone now.
Post by: 7mmfan on September 02, 2019, 06:29:56 PM
Post by: Brushcrawler on September 02, 2019, 07:59:47 PM
Post by: lord grizzly on September 03, 2019, 12:15:47 PM
Keep an eye out for stray teeth, you may get a few falling out in the next couple water changes. Easy to glue back in at the end. Unless you pour them down the drain.
i put all my skulls in a mesh bag for maceration. its pretty nasty washing the teeth out of the death goo but i don't lose any. that bottom jaw and teeth will all fall apart before its done. nylons work good too.
Post by: pianoman9701 on September 03, 2019, 12:18:36 PM
Post by: ghosthunter on September 29, 2019, 02:35:48 PM
Post by: blindluck on September 30, 2019, 09:32:43 AM
Post by: Crunchy on September 30, 2019, 10:08:24 AM
Post by: 7mmfan on September 30, 2019, 03:25:05 PM
Post by: lewy on September 30, 2019, 03:50:55 PM
Post by: buglebuster on October 01, 2019, 03:00:25 PM
Seems like a long time and a lot of screwing around -no offense.
:yeah: no offense but an aquarium heater you’d have been done in a week
Post by: ghosthunter on November 17, 2019, 11:39:51 AM
Seems like a long time and a lot of screwing around -no offense.
Yeah
But I have never been in a rush. I like piddling around with little projects.
One of my big complaints about life these days is a lot of folks are in a big hurry.
I am just not one of them. I like trying different things for myself.
Post by: ghosthunter on November 17, 2019, 11:46:40 AM
Little bit left on the underside but otherwise coming along.
It’s back in the water again as I have some waterfowl hunting projects I am working on with dog ramps,dingy,kayaks and such. Not planing on the decreasing till Feb.
Nothing done but hosing off and changing water , what four times now?
Post by: Twispriver on November 17, 2019, 04:00:29 PM
Post by: dilleytech on November 23, 2019, 08:43:44 PM
Post by: Dan-o on November 23, 2019, 08:53:05 PM
Thanks for documenting it.
Post by: Pathfinder101 on November 23, 2019, 09:08:37 PM
What’s the advantage of doing it this way instead of boiling? We do all our own skulls and from start of skinning the head to having a bleached skull is a matter of about 4 hours of work and you don’t have anything rotten to deal with.
I've done it both ways. Maceration yields a cleaner result and you preserve all the little feather-thin bones (like the ones in the nasal cavity) that you sometimes lose when boiling and picking. If I were looking for museum-quality skulls (like you would pay a taxidermist for) and didn't want to deal with beetles, I would go through the trouble of maceration. The one I macerated was one a guy paid me to do for him (I'm not a taxidermist, he just threw me a few bucks to euro out a decent buck he killed). It took a couple of months and the smell was horrible. I had a fish tank heater die on me and I didn't realize it for a few days and the water froze. Had to start over. PITA. The skull (along with a bear of my own) turned out really nice and the guy was happy. I was pleased with the end result.
BUT... I went back to boiling and picking the next season. The deer I do are generally for myself and my boys. I don't need museum quality. They hang up on the wall and you can't see those little feather-size bones anyway. It just wasn't worth the smell or the time to macerate. If I were a taxidermist, had a dozen tubs and fish tank heaters and customers that were expecting top quality and it was my job (meaning that I would be checking water temps and progress each day, and I were nose-blind), then I would macerate (maybe... more likely I'd probably have a beetle colony).
Just my :twocents:
Post by: dilleytech on November 24, 2019, 07:15:26 AM
What’s the advantage of doing it this way instead of boiling? We do all our own skulls and from start of skinning the head to having a bleached skull is a matter of about 4 hours of work and you don’t have anything rotten to deal with.
I've done it both ways. Maceration yields a cleaner result and you preserve all the little feather-thin bones (like the ones in the nasal cavity) that you sometimes lose when boiling and picking. If I were looking for museum-quality skulls (like you would pay a taxidermist for) and didn't want to deal with beetles, I would go through the trouble of maceration. The one I macerated was one a guy paid me to do for him (I'm not a taxidermist, he just threw me a few bucks to euro out a decent buck he killed). It took a couple of months and the smell was horrible. I had a fish tank heater die on me and I didn't realize it for a few days and the water froze. Had to start over. PITA. The skull (along with a bear of my own) turned out really nice and the guy was happy. I was pleased with the end result.
BUT... I went back to boiling and picking the next season. The deer I do are generally for myself and my boys. I don't need museum quality. They hang up on the wall and you can't see those little feather-size bones anyway. It just wasn't worth the smell or the time to macerate. If I were a taxidermist, had a dozen tubs and fish tank heaters and customers that were expecting top quality and it was my job (meaning that I would be checking water temps and progress each day, and I were nose-blind), then I would macerate (maybe... more likely I'd probably have a beetle colony).
Just my :twocents:
That makes sense. Thanks
Post by: 7mmfan on November 24, 2019, 08:06:02 AM
Post by: Jpmiller on November 24, 2019, 09:08:55 AM
Post by: 7mmfan on November 24, 2019, 04:24:28 PM
Post by: Pathfinder101 on November 24, 2019, 04:45:39 PM
I'm on week 4 of a modified masceration process of my bear and deer skull from this year. I change the water every week and add more soap and keep the stock tank heater going. The skulls are both 100% clean of any meat or brain matter as I pressure washed them both 2 times in the process. The grease, oil , and brown "stuff" that continues to come off those things is unbelievable. I'm sure most of it is the bear but still. I guess the point is I dont see how it's possible to be done start to finish in hours if hot water and soap continues to pull grease almost a month later. I'm convinced this will yield a better product than a one day job.
The boiling and picking takes a few hours, but you still need to degrease. I do all the boiling and picking in a day, then put the "clean" skull in a bucket of warm water with Dawn for a few weeks (changing the water every few days when I notice a greasy film on top). Whatever process you use (maceration, beetles or boiling and picking) you have to degrease. Twice as long for a bear.
Post by: PolarBear on November 24, 2019, 05:33:23 PM
And when you think you have it all degreased, go another week otherwise once it is in your house all nice and warm the grease that is left will leech out and turn it yellow. Today I went to start the maceration on my daughter's buck, bobcat and a few of her coyotes. I wound up having to put them in the freezer until I get the new tank heated I had to order. My other 2 have been loaned out and never returned. :chuckle:
Post by: buglebuster on November 24, 2019, 08:31:20 PM
Post by: ghosthunter on August 09, 2020, 06:02:49 PM
I put the bear skull in a bucket of dawn and water 2 months ago. Up till then was only in water.
One month later rinsed off and put in milk crate on top of my carport. Lots hot weather really turned it white.
Checked it today almost there. Turned over to let sun work on other side.
Guessing will be good enough end of month.
Post by: ghosthunter on August 09, 2020, 06:09:35 PM
Checked it from time to time and changed water.
Trimmed off some extra stuff along the way. And back in the bucket.
End of May put in Dawn soap and water.
Around end July took out of water put in milk crate in sun.
Forgot about till today.
Turned over in sun for three more weeks.
Post by: Jpmiller on August 09, 2020, 07:23:44 PM
Post by: ghosthunter on August 09, 2020, 07:29:52 PM
Cool, fun little experiment. If you do it again is there anything you'd do different?
I would clean it up a little better in the beginning.
I am sure there are faster methods. But I really wasn’t in a hurry. And really did not have to do much after things got rolling. Some said change the water often. I left it all winter and changed in spring. I moved inside during freezing weather.
I am happy with the process. Hot sunlight really made a huge difference.
Post by: ghosthunter on August 23, 2020, 01:59:16 PM
Post by: Dan-o on August 23, 2020, 02:22:01 PM
You are a very patient man.