DIY E-Boiler for Euro Skulls

[offthebeatenpath]

I’m so stoked to find this thread!
Here’s my experience and how I changed it over time.
Getting an elk euro’d is $250+, so it’s worth it to figure it out.

I live in Montana, so winter is winter.
I’ve tried beetles, froze a couple colonies.
Tried the water heater element, and melted the Rubbermaid tote.

Simmered a few antelope on a propane burner, which works okay, but it requires a lot of constant attention. I want something that can work while I'm not watching it.

I bought a 1500 watt bucket heater on Amazon two years ago and cleaned two mule deer and an elk in a cooler, but only used a garbage bag as a seal, so I lost a lot of water to condensation. Took 2-3 days for the elk.

This year I stepped it up, but underestimated my gains. I used plywood to create a lid that sealed better than the bag, but the rigid foam would be way better. I sealed the gaps with clean rags. I monitored the temp with my grill thermometer. It retained too much heat, so I used what I had, which was a Christmas light timer to cycle the heater on and off. In two days I overcooked the skull, it was too hot for the nose, not enough for the area around the pedicles.

Next year, the ticket is this:
Thermostat controlled outlet, 1500 watt bucket heater, cheap igloo cooler, rigid foam lid. 2 days, tops.

 

[offthebeatenpath]

 

[N.ID7803]

View attachment 1000439

I had similar experience with the heater. Almost overcooked the skull on an elk. Lost the nose piece on 2 out of 3 deer. I used a galvanized trough. 1500 watt heater at 170 deg covered with plywood and wrapped the trough with R-13 insulation. I like the idea of thermostat controlled outlet. Always fine tuning!

 

[cornfedkiller]

I had similar experience with the heater. Almost overcooked the skull on an elk. Lost the nose piece on 2 out of 3 deer. I used a galvanized trough. 1500 watt heater at 170 deg covered with plywood and wrapped the trough with R-13 insulation. I like the idea of thermostat controlled outlet. Always fine tuning!

Got the insulated box built for my galvanized tub, and about to order the 1500W heater, but now you have me wondering - doesnt the heater have a thermostat? You set it to 170 and it shuts off when the water gets up to temp?

And @offthebeatenpath, I was wondering about losing water - whenever I boil skulls with my propane burner, I have to add water, but I assumed its because its boiling (simmering) off. If I get a tank heater, set it to 170 and let it go overnight, am I going to lose a bunch of water overnight?

 

[N.ID7803]

Got the insulated box built for my galvanized tub, and about to order the 1500W heater, but now you have me wondering - doesnt the heater have a thermostat? You set it to 170 and it shuts off when the water gets up to temp?

And @offthebeatenpath, I was wondering about losing water - whenever I boil skulls with my propane burner, I have to add water, but I assumed its because its boiling (simmering) off. If I get a tank heater, set it to 170 and let it go overnight, am I going to lose a bunch of water overnight?

This is the one I bought https://a.co/d/azURmCm
It does have a thermostat that shuts off at 158, but I think you must be able to override it cause mine went to 170 and stayed there.

 

[offthebeatenpath]

And @offthebeatenpath, I was wondering about losing water - whenever I boil skulls with my propane burner, I have to add water, but I assumed its because its boiling (simmering) off. If I get a tank heater, set it to 170 and let it go overnight, am I going to lose a bunch of water overnight?

You’ll definitely lose some, but not a bunch. Hard to quantify.

 

[Jake Leibke]

Saw this thread after I ordered a heater to build one of these.

This is the one I ordered, cost is a little more but hoping it’ll be good.

Amazon.com

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[KyleR1985]

Bought 30 gallon drum on faceworld for 15 dollars, the guy made me take 3. Car wash owner buys cleaner concentrate In bulk.

Cut in slightly less than half (elk skull and heating element height). Bought 15 dollar water heater heating element and conduit nut and cut a rubber gasket. Sealed both sides with silicon or seam sealer or something I had in camp kit. Had a trashed tool I pulled the cord to wire element. Leak tested cold, leak tested hot.

Hired labor was cheap so I think I had 40 dollars in it. Had no issue maintaining warm enough water to get everything off a mature bull skull that wasn’t cleaned well prior.

Used electric pressure washer from garage sale (10 dollars) to help. More pressure than hose, less than gas washer. Perfect for this job.

Neighbors stared.

 

[KyleR1985]

Also a crock pot works great for deer skulls.

Sous vide is an excellent idea too might try that. I would imagine the circulation helps speed it along too.

 

[Erict]

....It does have a thermostat that shuts off at 158, but I think you must be able to override it cause mine went to 170 and stayed there.

IT IS CRITICAL that these types of sensors remain submerged while using. They can generally be set to turn on at a certain temp and off at a certain temp. If the sensor gets pulled out of the water, or exposed to air due to evaporation, or the container gets knocked over, it will cool. This turns the heater on and it won't stop. The heating element will get very hot quickly, boil off any water remaining and probably self destruct, hopefully before melting stuff or worse.