European mount (so far) ...

[Mr.Magoo]

After reading several techniques for cleaning a skull, I opted for the easiest and simply planted the head in the ground last Sept./Oct.

I pulled it out yesterday and it looks like I still have some work to do.  The skull is clean of hair, skin etc... but it just looks dirty (odd since I buried it in nice clean dirt).  

Next time I think I'll just set the skull on the ground with some chicken wire around it to keep bigger pests away.  I've returned to remains of deer I've shot a week later and found the bones clean and white.  Maybe on the ground is better than in the ground.

 

 

[nurayb]

Just boil them.  It is really easy, and just one step.

[Gordon martiniuk]

I have made many european mounts I boil for 3 to 5 hrs put a little borax to cut grease clean out any  membrains with hemostats a little screwdriver .. protect antlers with saran wrap and tinfoil let dry a day then put cottonbatting on skull and soak with hydrogen peroxide then cover with saran wrap (stops it from evaporating) then in a couple of days dry in direct sunlight you will have a white skull good Luck

[NorthernCaliforniaHunter]

H2O2. It'll look white as snow.

[waknstak IL]

I have a friend who does them. He has the dermested beetles to clean the flesh off. think he said he uses corn starch mixed with peroxide and spreads the paste on the skull.to bleach them.

[BlacktailBowhunter]

I have a taxi that does skulls for 95 bucks. They are beetled and then polished.

95 bones for a clean and polished skull is hard to beat.

[Mo. Huntin]

I don't know what you know about boiling skulls but you just want a very slow boil not a rapid boil otherwise the skull will get to hot and become brittle.  I use a gas turkey fryer and a metal 5 gallon bucket. It really is not that hard and does not bother me anymore, the first time I thought it was kind of nasty mainly the eye part.  Just don't put bleach on it.  There was an article about a guy who burried a skull and dug it up before it was done and started working on it and got stuck on a bone and almost lost a body part due to flesh eating disease.

[John Scifres]

Leave it out in the weather for a couple weeks.  It'll bleach.  I just dug one up a couple weeks ago and it is now pretty much bleached naturally.  I'm not a big fan of the pure white look.

[Jack Guard]

If you want to try and remove some of the discoloration, use peroxide.  even the cheap stuff at wally world.  It will help.  then set it in the sun to dry for a few days.  you may have to use the peroxide a couple of times to get it white.  

Good luck and post some pics when you getter dun !

[adeeden]

35% hydrogen peroxide H202 will make it as white as can be if thats what your after. You can get it at most beuty/hair places, or check with your local chemical supplier. Like John S. I kinda like the natural sun bleach look myself.

[bjohnson]

I agree with adeeden. I bought peroxide from a beauty supply store and mixed it with baking soda. brushed on the paste and brought out the white

[Colt]

DON"T BOIL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Simmer for several hours instead.

PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE don't boil. You will turn the bones very brittle.

I know, I do taxidermy.

Contact Van Dykes Taxi Supllier for a bleach kit. Less than $20 if I recall correctly.