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Author Topic: Boiling Deer Skulls.  (Read 7978 times)

Offline Smossy

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Boiling Deer Skulls.
« on: April 04, 2013, 03:05:40 PM »
Yuck. Just started boiling two half antler skulls I have that were given to us by a member on here. Just as something to have on my wall for deco.. Was still lots of matter/hair/skin on them so Im getting them all cleaned up to put on some plaque mounts.
Fun lil project. Alittle practice for when I decide to do my own down the road. Atleast Ill know what I have to do.


So far, Boiling them in water, a small 2x2 and a much larger 3x3. Removing all the skin/hair/matter from the skull with a skinning knife and brillow pad. Just trying to get it clean for the most part.

Next I think Im gonna do a nice wipedown with pure bleach on just the skull part, then leave them overnight.
Tomorrow Ill try to find a good wood varnish or something along those lines and cheap, to give it a nice finished look.

Then eventually get them mounted.

Hows all that sound, to all you guys that have been down this road before?

Ill post some photos in a bit.

I forgot to mention the stench... Yummy, Smells like cooked roadkill/leather..  :puke:
One touch of nature makes the whole world kin.

Offline tjthebest

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Re: Boiling Deer Skulls.
« Reply #1 on: April 04, 2013, 03:10:04 PM »
Dont use bleach. Use hydrogen peroxide. you also might want to try and degrease the skull as well.
Camp Wapiti Death!

Offline Bean Counter

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Re: Boiling Deer Skulls.
« Reply #2 on: April 04, 2013, 03:10:48 PM »
Boiling is the quick and dirty method. Boil too long and you'll weaken the bones and make it susceptible to fracture. If you need it done quickly but have more patience then just boiling it then i would turn the propane stove down adjust simmer it. Use lots of Dawn dish soap to keep the grease from subducting into the skull. Bleach will also weaken. I haven't used it and peroxide whitens just fine.

Offline elk247

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Re: Boiling Deer Skulls.
« Reply #3 on: April 04, 2013, 03:11:10 PM »
Theres a good link on here about diy european mounts. Lots of taxidermist input. Carfeful with the bleach. I did a nice 3x4 buck years ago and the bleach made the skull very brittle.

Offline Smossy

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Re: Boiling Deer Skulls.
« Reply #4 on: April 04, 2013, 03:12:40 PM »
Ok no bleach then!
One touch of nature makes the whole world kin.

Offline h20hunter

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Re: Boiling Deer Skulls.
« Reply #5 on: April 04, 2013, 03:14:46 PM »
Better make sure this is indoors....to much fresh air will ruin the scent...


PICS!

Offline Bean Counter

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Re: Boiling Deer Skulls.
« Reply #6 on: April 04, 2013, 03:16:06 PM »
Lol; that's just cruel.  :chuckle:

Offline NRA4LIFE

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Re: Boiling Deer Skulls.
« Reply #7 on: April 04, 2013, 03:19:55 PM »
throw a bit of borax in the boiling water also.  That will turn the gunk into a jello like substance and degreases it pretty good too.  HP for the finishing whitening.
Look man, some times you just gotta roll the dice

Offline NoImpactNoIdea

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Re: Boiling Deer Skulls.
« Reply #8 on: April 04, 2013, 03:23:09 PM »
Better make sure this is indoors....to much fresh air will ruin the scent...


PICS!

Sage advise.

Offline Smossy

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Re: Boiling Deer Skulls.
« Reply #9 on: April 04, 2013, 03:29:40 PM »
Better make sure this is indoors....to much fresh air will ruin the scent...


PICS!
I am, most definetly... In doors right now.. Lol doing it on my kitchen stove! Good thing my girls not home.
One touch of nature makes the whole world kin.

Offline Smossy

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Re: Boiling Deer Skulls.
« Reply #10 on: April 04, 2013, 03:30:11 PM »
throw a bit of borax in the boiling water also.  That will turn the gunk into a jello like substance and degreases it pretty good too.  HP for the finishing whitening.
I have some on hand actually, about how much does it matter?
One touch of nature makes the whole world kin.

Offline Becky

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Re: Boiling Deer Skulls.
« Reply #11 on: April 04, 2013, 03:30:32 PM »
Better make sure this is indoors....to much fresh air will ruin the scent...

PICS!
I am, most definetly... In doors right now.. Lol doing it on my kitchen stove! Good thing my girls not home.

 :yeah: ... ^^^ I WAS JUST TYPING THAT.

Offline Smossy

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Re: Boiling Deer Skulls.
« Reply #12 on: April 04, 2013, 03:31:21 PM »
Pics on the way.
One touch of nature makes the whole world kin.

Offline elk247

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Re: Boiling Deer Skulls.
« Reply #13 on: April 04, 2013, 03:35:21 PM »
Dear god! I hope not. I have two keg shells one for boiling crab and one for skulls. They are labled and not interchangable.

Offline Smossy

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Re: Boiling Deer Skulls.
« Reply #14 on: April 04, 2013, 03:39:28 PM »
Here we go.
One touch of nature makes the whole world kin.

 


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