Skulls

For the guys macerating, if you dont use the soap just water and a aquarium heater it will go considerably quicker, and dont change the water. The soap kills the bacteria that is helping break down the meat. If you want to kick start it, add a can of beer to the pail.
 
Compressed air can work too if you take care to avoid joints or thin patches of bone. It can strip bone like you wouldn't believe if you get the right angle.


Plus you're going to get horrible bits of finely misted rotten deer head all over everything, so get an extension and go way out in the back yard... not in the shop ;)
 
This thread is hilarious. My wife would think I'm Jeffery Dahmer if I got caught boiling a head. I've done bear heads before, but that was the old days. It does sound like fun if the wife is going to be out of town, though.
 
I use a Turkey deep fryer, but use water in a seperate canister...that way it can sit outside..I would never do it inside..
 
Slooshark1 said:
This thread is hilarious. My wife would think I'm Jeffery Dahmer if I got caught boiling a head. I've done bear heads before, but that was the old days. It does sound like fun if the wife is going to be out of town, though.
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My wife just goes with the flow....... she expects me to do things like this and not much surprises her anymore. :cool:
 
I am trying to do one now as well, just skinning the head is very hard. My wife is pretty used to me doing crazy stuff in the house (although this is a barn project) ever since that time she came home and found car parts in the dishwasher... well let's just say shes never surprised anymore. She just rolls her eyes, smiles and walks away. She is a super lady!
 
OK. The stuff at the back and base of the skull is all cleaned off. Its 95% done, and I ran into my next issue. How the h311 !?!??!! do I get the stuff out of the nasal cavity without destroying the delicate bones any more than I already have? Or do I just let it dry up?
 
Skin and cut out as much as possible.
Put some Gillets Lye (a couple of tablespoons) in water in a stainless steel pot.
Boil until all the tissue disolves and don't get any of this hot caustic solution on yourself.
Do this outside!
It doesn't take long for all the tissue to disolve (Don't boil too long).
Rinse in cold water and put in the sun to dry.

A trapper friend told me about this some time ago. I did a timberwolf skull two years ago and it came out perfect. All the small nasal cavity bones are clean and in place.
Once the skull dries the teeth may come loose but can be easily put in place with epoxy.
 
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