Dermistid beetles

[lpcjon2]

That was me, and my experience with beetles is with human flesh. I was always informed that they will not eat wet flesh(we have to clean off all the skin and muscle), Maybe that is just human flesh. I stand corrected.

[SEMO_HUNTER]

Originally posted by lpcjon2:
Chris wont a little Borax in the boiling water keep it from drying out and getting brittle?

Not sure on that one? I use Borax for lots of things but never used it to boil skulls. It's a great drying agent and I have used it on Turkey fan mounts and coyote tails to dry the oils in the hide for preserving. It's such a versatile substance, I'm sure there are a bunch more uses for Borax than what I know about.
I collect cow skulls and I just let nature do it's thing before I bring them home. About one full summer from carcass to clean and white is about right.

The Euro mounts that I've done where I boiled the skull have all gotten very brittle, so the next one is going to be by the maceration process. I don't care if the teeth fall out or not.

[bama]

I've done several skulls by different methods with good results but none of them compare to ones done by professional working with beetles.

[ApplePie]

My vote goes to the beetles.  I just dropped off the rack from this year's buck to the taxidermist, because I was so impressed last time.  He ships all his clients' skulls together at the end of the season to a pro beetle guy (to cut down on costs).  Takes a while, but worth it.  Bone is whiter+stronger, nasal cavity perfect, and teeth don't loosen in the process...

[SEMO_HUNTER]

I just finished cleaning this skull by the methods in the link I provided in the earlier post above. Judge for yourself, but it didn't cost me anything, and I did it in less than 2 days.

 

 

[Skipmaster1]

I have done dozens of skulls by boiling and whitening them and they come out good, but I have had 5 of them done by a local guy with beetles in the past few years and they come out WAY better. They look like porcelin and they are not nearly as brittle.  He gets under $100 I believe.