Deer skull cap cleaning

[rugerla1]

I am curious as to what you guys' favorite method is for this. I recently heard a new way, the guy said he picks as much meat off as he can and then sets it in a bucket with non-iodized salt. Also know about the boiling method, but gonna have to do that outside, the wife probably won't be pleased smelling or seeing it on the stove. I'm sure there are ways y'all do it that I haven't heard of, so fire away. Thanks.

[DaveS]

For what you're doing any salt will work. Non-Iodized is what you are needing for tanning and mounting. In my almost 30 years of Taxidermy Work, I've done skulls this way. If meat and flesh remain on the skull, submerge in just enough water to cover the skull cap and add 1/2 cup of baking soda or 20 mule team borax (my favorite). Boil for about 20 minutes and then scrape clean. Brush on some bleach if you want it really white, rinse and let dry. Mount it as you choose and enjoy!

 

If you need a little more help, just let me know.

 

DaveS

Edited November 13, 2013 by DaveS

[rugerla1]

For what you're doing any salt will work. Non-Iodized is what you are needing for tanning and mounting. In my almost 30 years of Taxidermy Work, I've done skulls this way. If meat and flesh remain on the skull, submerge in just enough water to cover the skull cap and add 1/2 cup of baking soda or 20 mule team borax (my favorite). Boil for about 20 minutes and then scrape clean. Brush on some bleach if you want it really white, rinse and let dry. Mount it as you choose and enjoy!
 
If you need a little more help, just let me know.
 
DaveS

Awesome, thanks Dave! I heard something about the borax but wasn't sure what they did with it.

[rugerla1]

So add the borax to the water while boiling?

[SupaRice]

I've got one to do like this already, the next one if I catch him with his pants down this week I was thinking about a full European mount.... Anyone know a place with beetles near Nashville?

[DaveS]

So add the borax to the water while boiling?

Add borax to the water and then boil I guess either way will work. Just don't add dish soap to boiling water. Don't ask how I know this!

 

DaveS

[DaveS]

I've got one to do like this already, the next one if I catch him with his pants down this week I was thinking about a full European mount.... Anyone know a place with beetles near Nashville?

What do you need beetles for? It's expensive and time consuming. Get you a boiling pot and get busy!

 

DaveS

[rugerla1]

Add borax to the water and then boil I guess either way will work. Just don't add dish soap to boiling water. Don't ask how I know this!

 

DaveS

Sorry Dave, I was reading this on my phone last night and didn't notice you'd said borax AFTER you said submerge it in the water. I was thinking you meant to soak it in the borax like you would the salt, and take it out of there and then boil it. But this morning I noticed I just misread it. Appreciate the advice!

[DaveS]

Sorry Dave, I was reading this on my phone last night and didn't notice you'd said borax AFTER you said submerge it in the water. I was thinking you meant to soak it in the borax like you would the salt, and take it out of there and then boil it. But this morning I noticed I just misread it. Appreciate the advice!

If you're going to boil the skull in baking soda or borax, you really don't need the salt as the other two products contain enough of it. My favorite is Borax. I use that 99% of everything!

 

DaveS

[rugerla1]

If you're going to boil the skull in baking soda or borax, you really don't need the salt as the other two products contain enough of it. My favorite is Borax. I use that 99% of everything!
 
DaveS

10-4!! Can't wait to give it a shot :up:

[KahrMan]

I have always boiled the head.  If you do, make sure you wrap the bottoms of the antlers with aluminum foil so they do not get discolored.  

 

My wife would not let me do this in the house or use any of her pans.  I went to Goodwill and found a pot for $5.  I used my turkey fryer base and the goodwill pot and did it on the patio.  Worked great.

[rugerla1]

I have always boiled the head.  If you do, make sure you wrap the bottoms of the antlers with aluminum foil so they do not get discolored.  

 

My wife would not let me do this in the house or use any of her pans.  I went to Goodwill and found a pot for $5.  I used my turkey fryer base and the goodwill pot and did it on the patio.  Worked great.

I'm in the same boat there. I hadn't thought of the goodwill. I may swing by and see if they have an old camp pot and maybe a little stove or burner. Or just buy a little stove off Craigslist. Thanks for the idea!

[JWC]

I use a metal 5 gallon bucket.

[rugerla1]

Dave. thanks for all the pointers (no pun intended!) lol

Boiled up a couple of my skulls after buying a little camp stove from Wal-Mart Saturday night. Used 20 Mule Team Borax and it worked GREAT! Haven't put the peroxide to them yet, but that's next, and then probably spray them with a little shellac to seal them up. But all in all, very happy with how well the borax worked. Thanks again and here's a couple pictures. Working on a wooden background idea that I think will look good and will post pics when I'm done.

[URL=http://s277.photobucket.com/user/blue89k5/media/IMAG0358_zps1dbbe621.jpg.html][/URL]

[URL=http://s277.photobucket.com/user/blue89k5/media/IMAG0361_zpsd698029c.jpg.html][/URL]

[Guest Bonedaddy]

I'm lazy. I just left mine sittin' out on a table all year from last year. Just need to peel a little hide from the very top of his skull then a little bleach and "BWALLA!" Gonna hang the whole skull, minus the lower jaw bone, on the garage front. Yep. Redneck.

[rugerla1]

I'm lazy. I just left mine sittin' out on a table all year from last year. Just need to peel a little hide from the very top of his skull then a little bleach and "BWALLA!" Gonna hang the whole skull, minus the lower jaw bone, on the garage front. Yep. Redneck.

The smaller one is from last year too. Still had the hide on top, just left it on there when I threw it in the pot. Came off easily after boiling. Racks look good hanging anywhere, yep, redneck too  :up:

[rugerla1]

Here's my idea I used. I got the wood off of a crate that we receive hammers in at work. Cut up some rope, tacked a few nails and here it is. Room for a couple more up top still. Hope to fill it soon! Hope y'all like it

[Wingshooter]

Here's my idea I used. I got the wood off of a crate that we receive hammers in at work. Cut up some rope, tacked a few nails and here it is. Room for a couple more up top still. Hope to fill it soon! Hope y'all like it

Looks great!

[rugerla1]

Thanks Batman!

[DaveS]

Looks great!

 

Here's my idea I used. I got the wood off of a crate that we receive hammers in at work. Cut up some rope, tacked a few nails and here it is. Room for a couple more up top still. Hope to fill it soon! Hope y'all like it

That looks good! I bet an old piece of Barnwood would look crazy awesome. I don't want to steal your idea, but  would you let me try your idea with a piece of barnwood?

 

DaveS

Edited November 22, 2013 by DaveS

[DaveS]

Maybe I should mention that "Hydrogen Peroxide" has much better skull whitening powers than bleach and will bring out more of a bone look to the finished product. The Peroxide to use is NOT the peroxide you buy at Walmart or local drug store. Go to a beauty supply shop and buy the "real deal"! Get some Clairol 40. And if you currently like the skin color on your hands PLEASE WEAR GLOVES AND GLASSES (old clothes or shop apron would help also) when using this stuff. Just paint it on your skull, let sit for a bit, rinse and set in the sun to dry for a few. And have a cold one in the process. If it's not as light as you would like, repeat.

 

DaveS

[rugerla1]

Maybe I should mention that "Hydrogen Peroxide" has much better skull whitening powers than bleach and will bring out more of a bone look to the finished product. The Peroxide to use is NOT the peroxide you buy at Walmart or local drug store. Go to a beauty supply shop and buy the "real deal"! Get some Clairol 40. And if you currently like the skin color on your hands PLEASE WEAR GLOVES AND GLASSES (old clothes or shop apron would help also) when using this stuff. Just paint it on your skull, let sit for a bit, rinse and set in the sun to dry for a few. And have a cold one in the process. If it's not as light as you would like, repeat.

 

DaveS

That's what I was going to use, and thanks for the tip on gloves and glasses.

[rugerla1]

That looks good! I bet an old piece of Barnwood would look crazy awesome. I don't want to steal your idea, but  would you let me try your idea with a piece of barnwood?

 

DaveS

That's what it reminds me of is a slab cut out of a barn, makes me want to paint it red! :up:  Steal away, it's just something I've been staring at for years at work and it just popped in my head to try it. I'm actually looking forward to seeing what yours looks like...........something tells me your racks will be a lot bigger than mine though :rofl:

[DaveS]

That's what it reminds me of is a slab cut out of a barn, makes me want to paint it red! :up:  Steal away, it's just something I've been staring at for years at work and it just popped in my head to try it. I'm actually looking forward to seeing what yours looks like...........something tells me your racks will be a lot bigger than mine though :rofl:

Nah...I like little racks! Actually, the smaller racks make the coolest decorations!

 

Dave