Hunting Washington Forum

Community => Taxidermy & Scoring => Topic started by: kschab123 on October 21, 2020, 05:13:36 PM

Title: Euro Mount Help
Post by: kschab123 on October 21, 2020, 05:13:36 PM: Hey everyone. I am in the process of processing my bull this year for a euro mount, I was in a pretty big rush to process the meat and kinda left the head hanging. I had thought about maybe taking it to someone with beetles to cleab in but it got pretty rotten and infested with maggots and i heard beetle guys wont take rotten heads. Anyways, simmered it for 4 hours about and cleaned most the meat off but there still was some hanging on so simmered it for maybe 2 hours a couple days layer and got the rest off. Im worried maybe i boiled it too long as some parts seem porous and chalky. its also a bit greasy at this point. Was just wondering if anyone jad any insight on the best approach from this point forward. Here are some pics. Does this skull look ok?
Title: Re: Euro Mount Help
Post by: kschab123 on October 21, 2020, 05:15:36 PM: Kind of flaky here...
Title: Re: Euro Mount Help
Post by: blindluck on October 21, 2020, 07:25:25 PM: Simmering actually works good if you stay on top of it, what did you put In The water, something made it flake. The next step is to degrease then whiten.
Title: Re: Euro Mount Help
Post by: Wolfdog2314 on October 21, 2020, 07:35:11 PM: I simmer with some oxy clean or baking soda and some dawn dish soap. The oxy clean seems to work the best in there. I’d give it another low simmer with that combo.
Title: Re: Euro Mount Help
Post by: snake on October 21, 2020, 08:13:22 PM: Skulls fine, I've done hundreds of them and put 1/2 to a full box of 20 mule team borax in when I boil.
Title: Re: Euro Mount Help
Post by: kschab123 on October 21, 2020, 08:26:22 PM: I put baking soda in it initially. Was thinking of giving it another warm soak with dawn to get the grease out. I did my bull from last year and I think the temp got too hot. Used peroxide mixed with basic white and it turned out ok. Just wanted to get something better for this guy. Really wish i would have caped him.
Title: Re: Euro Mount Help
Post by: kschab123 on October 21, 2020, 08:27:33 PM: It did come to a boil here and there while simmering but i really was trying to stay on top of it.
Title: Re: Euro Mount Help
Post by: JBar on October 21, 2020, 08:28:00 PM: I use Oxyclean and dawn soap as mentioned above. Simmer only never boil as too much heat will make it brittle. You only need to simmer 45 minutes to an hour. Pressure wash the majority off and use picks and clean out everything else. Sounds like you may have already cooked it too long.
Title: Re: Euro Mount Help
Post by: kschab123 on October 21, 2020, 08:40:39 PM: Yeah, im kind of thinking I did cook it too long. Wondering what the best approach might be at this point.
Title: Re: Euro Mount Help
Post by: fowl smacker on October 21, 2020, 08:46:30 PM: Just soak it now in hot (like tap water hot) water and dawn dish soap.
Title: Re: Euro Mount Help
Post by: kschab123 on October 21, 2020, 09:16:08 PM: Probably will give that a go. Then soak in peroxide. Will let you guys know how it turns out. Thanks for the replies.
Title: Re: Euro Mount Help
Post by: andersonjk4 on October 22, 2020, 05:59:04 AM: I have beetles and you are right... I won’t take anything that is rotting and has maggots.

To properly and fully degrease a large skull like that it will take time. I use dawn dish soap and a fish tank heater. Replace the water every few days until you stop seeing signs of grease in the water. Could take weeks depending on how much grease is still in the bone.
Title: Re: Euro Mount Help
Post by: Pathfinder101 on October 22, 2020, 06:53:48 AM: Skull looks fine so far. It's gonna turn out great. Degrease it (I do this by soaking it in a tub of water with a liberal squirt of blue Dawn dishsoap mixed in for a few weeks - at least 2-3 weeks for an elk-), then take it out and let it dry for a night. The next morning coat everything white with peroxide hair goo (I get it at the beauty supply place-they're not really supposed to sell it to you unless you have a license to do hair- but if you just tell them you are bleaching bone, they let you buy it.) and let it sit in the sun for about 12 hours. Wash off the hair goo, and let it sit in the sun for another day or two. Should be done.
Title: Re: Euro Mount Help
Post by: kschab123 on October 22, 2020, 08:00:08 AM: Ok, thanks guys. Gonna give it a go this weekend. Will keep you posted!
Title: Re: Euro Mount Help
Post by: Angry Perch on October 22, 2020, 03:35:03 PM: Quote from: kschab123 on October 22, 2020, 08:00:08 AM
Ok, thanks guys. Gonna give it a go this weekend. Will keep you posted!

Just remember that the stuff Pathfinder is talking about is not the hydrogen peroxide you get from the drug store. This stuff is white and creamy.
Title: Re: Euro Mount Help
Post by: kschab123 on October 22, 2020, 04:12:06 PM: Right. I did my bull last year with volume 40 and basic white from sally's beauty supply. Am gonna try just volume 40 this year. I ordered the gel from amazon.
Title: Re: Euro Mount Help
Post by: Pathfinder101 on October 27, 2020, 08:30:48 AM: Quote from: kschab123 on October 22, 2020, 04:12:06 PM
Right. I did my bull last year with volume 40 and basic white from sally's beauty supply. Am gonna try just volume 40 this year. I ordered the gel from amazon.

:yeah: Yup, that's the stuff. I get it from Sally's too. I couldn't remember the name, but yes, it is Volume 40. Pour it over the skull, then use a paint brush to get it in all the little crevices.
Title: Re: Euro Mount Help
Post by: Crunchy on October 27, 2020, 08:56:32 AM: I just finished a bear skull a couple of weeks ago. I bought the paste/gel by accident. I did one gallon of the gel and a gallon of hot water. Let it soak with the fish tank thermometers going for 24 hrs. Turned out perfect.
Title: Re: Euro Mount Help
Post by: LDennis24 on October 27, 2020, 09:16:18 AM: If you guys have high volume peroxide make the kids some elephant toothpaste in this cold air and it will look awesome! You know, after you do your mounts and have some left over. Lol
Title: Re: Euro Mount Help
Post by: Magnum_Willys on October 27, 2020, 09:20:31 AM: Quote from: JBar on October 21, 2020, 08:28:00 PM
I use Oxyclean and dawn soap as mentioned above. Simmer only never boil as too much heat will make it brittle. You only need to simmer 45 minutes to an hour. Pressure wash the majority off and use picks and clean out everything else. Sounds like you may have already cooked it too long.
:yeah:
Oxiclean and Dawn. I didn't even need to put hydrogen peroxide bleach paste on it but you might need to.
Title: Re: Euro Mount Help
Post by: Magnum_Willys on October 27, 2020, 09:22:27 AM: Quote from: LDennis24 on October 27, 2020, 09:16:18 AM
If you guys have high volume peroxide make the kids some elephant toothpaste in this cold air and it will look awesome! You know, after you do your mounts and have some left over. Lol

:dunno: Say What ?????
Title: Re: Euro Mount Help
Post by: LDennis24 on October 27, 2020, 01:37:15 PM: Watch this stuff!

https://sciencebob.com/fantastic-foamy-fountain/
Title: Re: Euro Mount Help
Post by: LDennis24 on October 27, 2020, 01:46:05 PM
Title: Re: Euro Mount Help
Post by: blindluck on October 27, 2020, 04:06:45 PM: I’ve used the Sally’s stuff Works good but, in my opinion there is a better way to whiten and you get it white inside and out by submersion.
Title: Re: Euro Mount Help
Post by: kschab123 on October 29, 2020, 06:44:52 AM: Haha, was wondering what elephant toothpaste was. Still soaking the skull in dawn and water, changing and refreshing with hot tap water wvery couple days. Will probably put peroxide on it this weekend.
Title: Re: Euro Mount Help
Post by: Pathfinder101 on October 29, 2020, 07:38:33 AM: Doing 3 deer skulls right now. I have never boiled in borax before (always just used water). It did seem to take the flesh off faster (I did two antelope last week, and even though they are smaller it took longer than the deer I did last night).
I talked to a few people that said to take it right out of the borax and bleach it. I don't see how that would work without some degreasing. Both skulls came out of the borax with a lot of dark in them. I know that is oil, so I am degreasing as I always do; got two skulls soaking in blue Dawn and warm water now (they'll degrease for at least a week). Finishing the boiling/picking job on the 3rd skull tonight. :tup:
Title: Re: Euro Mount Help
Post by: kschab123 on October 29, 2020, 08:09:44 AM: How long are you boiling? I felt like i probably boiled too long, but it seemed the minimum for the meat to come off.
Title: Re: Euro Mount Help
Post by: Magnum_Willys on October 29, 2020, 08:56:53 AM: Remember to use Oxiclean NOT Oxyclean. Available at Walmart.
Title: Re: Euro Mount Help
Post by: Pathfinder101 on October 29, 2020, 09:58:48 AM: Quote from: kschab123 on October 29, 2020, 08:09:44 AM
How long are you boiling? I felt like i probably boiled too long, but it seemed the minimum for the meat to come off.

I think I got the meat off by boiling with borax for about 1 1/2 hours (I didn't time it). I kept pulling it out, pressure washing it off and putting it back in until it came clean.
Title: Re: Euro Mount Help
Post by: Pathfinder101 on October 29, 2020, 09:59:54 AM: Quote from: Magnum_Willys on October 29, 2020, 08:56:53 AM
Remember to use Oxiclean NOT Oxyclean. Available at Walmart.

Didn't realize there was a difference. If I do another skull this year, I'll try Oxiclean...
Title: Re: Euro Mount Help
Post by: Pathfinder101 on November 04, 2020, 12:23:04 PM: So, after the 2 antelope skulls I did, I had to run to Sally's to get some more Volume 40 hair goo. There was another fella in there buying the same stuff. He was also getting a small bag of "Quick White" powder (on the same shelf as the Volume 40). He swore by the stuff, saying that he mixed the powder in with the Volume 40 until it was "peanut butter" consistency. I tried it on our deer. Painted it on and left it for about 12 hours then washed it off and let it sit in the sun for a day. Brilliant white.
Don't know if I will always use the stuff though. Volume 40 peroxide is about $5 a bottle. The Quick White was like $25. :dunno:
Title: Re: Euro Mount Help
Post by: Sutherland on November 04, 2020, 02:34:49 PM: Oh awesome those turned out great!
Title: Re: Euro Mount Help
Post by: Pathfinder101 on November 04, 2020, 03:36:38 PM: .
Title: Re: Euro Mount Help
Post by: kschab123 on November 04, 2020, 08:16:45 PM: Thats what i used last year but i feel like it made the skull kinda chalky. Wanted a more smooth skull look i guess. Anyways... soaked my bull in hot tap water and dawn dish soap for about a week (wife got pretty tiree of it in the basement) so let it dry and painted on the volume 40 cream and covered with a garbage bag. Checked every day and applied.more for 3 days. I washed it off today. Not as white as i would like. Probably needed to degrease more. Might just go with the volume 40 mixed with basic white to finish it off as it seems like its taking a long time. What do you guys think?
Title: Re: Euro Mount Help
Post by: kschab123 on November 04, 2020, 08:18:55 PM: Not sure why the photos are upside down.
Title: Re: Euro Mount Help
Post by: snake on November 04, 2020, 09:08:38 PM: Bull looks great, call it a victory.
Title: Re: Euro Mount Help
Post by: Pathfinder101 on November 05, 2020, 03:40:22 PM: Quote from: kschab123 on November 04, 2020, 08:16:45 PM
Thats what i used last year but i feel like it made the skull kinda chalky. Wanted a more smooth skull look i guess. Anyways... soaked my bull in hot tap water and dawn dish soap for about a week (wife got pretty tiree of it in the basement) so let it dry and painted on the volume 40 cream and covered with a garbage bag. Checked every day and applied.more for 3 days. I washed it off today. Not as white as i would like. Probably needed to degrease more. Might just go with the volume 40 mixed with basic white to finish it off as it seems like its taking a long time. What do you guys think?

looks good to me :tup:
Title: Re: Euro Mount Help
Post by: kschab123 on November 05, 2020, 07:43:56 PM: Seemed to whiten up a bit after it dried. Looks better. Might hit the top with a bit more volume 40. I really have nowhere to put it though. Need taller ceilings!
Title: Re: Euro Mount Help
Post by: Pathfinder101 on November 06, 2020, 07:42:30 AM: They usually do whiten up when they dry. I always try to put them out in the sun for a day or two after the peroxide. Maybe that does something... maybe it doesn't :dunno:. 'Course... not much you can do about that when it's raining...
Title: Re: Euro Mount Help
Post by: kschab123 on November 07, 2020, 09:43:06 AM: Haha yeah, we don't get much sunlight at pur house either.