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Degreasing deer skulls

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osage outlaw:

--- Quote from: JW_Halverson on November 28, 2022, 11:09:11 am ---The pros are avoiding boiling altogether as it seems to set the grease deeper into the bone and cooks the collagen out of the bone and joints. More and more are going to straight maceration. Maceration is where you remove as much soft tissue as possible and then submerge it in water to rot it out. Most of them are doing like Clint shows by adding heat to speed up the process. Near daily water changes and a little pressure-washer action cleans them up really nicely. Once the flesh is off they go into warm buckets of Dawn and water.

When done properly, the bone will not yellow with age no matter how long it sets on the shelf. Museums have been doing this for well over a hundred years and it seems only recently taxidermists and bone collectors are figuring it out.

--- End quote ---

That's the process I'm switching too next year.  I need to get a maceration set up ready.  I've seen where they use old non running chest freezers.  I'll order a few more heating elements and thermostats.  The smell is the worst part.  It won't bother me too much due to my profession.  My wife will probably not be too fond of it. 

My goal is to produce museum quality skull mounts.  I thought about using dermestid beetles but you have to keep them alive year round and that can be a hassle.  The maceration process seems like the best route.  I saved my step sons doe head to use as a test run. 

JW_Halverson:
Yup, that's the drawback I saw with the dermestid beetles. You go all in all year or you go home. Well, that and you better keep them in a building far from your house in case of escapes. They will go after mounts on the wall, and any other leather or animal-based products available, like sinew-backed bows.
 

White Falcon:
I us Dawn and NO bleach! Bleach will cause the skull to yellow over time. I rinse with Dawn 3 or 4 times. Rinse in clear water 3 or 4 times and let dry. I then paint on 40% peroxide, let set 24 hrs, rinse and paint again. I do thes 2 or three times. Rinse and let dry in the sun if possable.

Pappy:
man them wing calls are beautiful. :)
 Pappy

White Falcon:
Thanks!

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