DIY skull cleaning (Turkey fryer) tips?

[OKHunter84]

Carwash? Not around here.

The cartilage on the back of the skull and the brains are always a PIA. You could try simmering it a little more and then just digging around. Maybe a water hose with a spray nozzle? I always use a pressure washer or go to an old carwash for the last part.

 

[Macintosh]

Yeah, not even a hose till Im home. Better to keep it wet and soft, or ok to let it dry and come back to it tomorrow at home?

 

[svivian]

Doing my first diy euro on a deer at my family camp—no access to pressure washer, minimal tools, tiny town so only basics abailable, etc. Sort of a “must-do-diy” to be legal bringing it home tomorrow lunchtime. View attachment 791535

are you referring to the brain matter? Did you take a metal rod and scramble the brains and drain it out really good before simmering in the pot?

 

[Macintosh]

are you referring to the brain matter? Did you take a metal rod and scramble the brains and drain it out really good before simmering in the pot?

Scrambled and washed out brains before simmering. I think there is still one chunk in there, but mostly Im referring to the cartilegy stuff on the back and bottom of the skull as shown in the photo, a little in the nasal cavity. Its still fully glued on and doesnt want to lift off from the bone even with a knife or screwdriver.

 

[OKHunter84]

When you get home then simmer it a little more and then power wash. I don't think it'll matter if it's wet till then.

 

[svivian]

When you get home then simmer it a little more and then power wash. I don't think it'll matter if it's wet till then.

I agree, I wouldnt worry about it till you got home then. needs to simmer longer to break down the additional cartridge.

 

[Macintosh]

@svivian @OKHunter84 so I simmered more, it did help. I’m 99% of the way there, just having a hard time with the last little bit inside the skull. There’s a narrower passage in front of the brain case that has some tissue left in it, it’s like it goes up toward the sinus or nasal passage. I have a dental pick a homemade Hook, knives, forceps, needle, nose, pliers, and assorted other gadgets and I simply cannot get a hold of this thing enough to pull it out, I’m pulling out tiny little pieces at a time, but the main chunk in there won’t budge.Any tips on removing this last bit?

Photo shows where Im talking about—looking into the hole where the spinal cord was, the last little chunk is circled in red.

 

[OKHunter84]

Did you try jamming a power washer in there after you simmered it? You'll have to put your foot on top of it.

 

[Macintosh]

I dont have access to a pressure washer. High-ish pressure hose helped, but this last chunk is anchored WAAAAY back in there. Is a pressure washer the only real way to do it at this point?

 

[OKHunter84]

I dont have access to a pressure washer. High-ish pressure hose helped, but this last chunk is anchored WAAAAY back in there. Is a pressure washer the only real way to do it at this point?

It's the most effective way I've found. Some guys do cold water mastication, which is just leaving it in water for several days and then the harder chunks come out, but the teeth might possibly fall out if you do that long enough. Friend used to use the beetles but that's not really an option everyone would have access to either.

Maybe simmer a little more and see if you can get some forceps in there, maybe dig around with a pick or a scalpel blade.

 

[tim64]

I use Dawn dishsoap and Borax for the "boil". Pressure wash then peroxide paste for the whitening.

 

[RadialJett]

@svivian @OKHunter84 so I simmered more, it did help. I’m 99% of the way there, just having a hard time with the last little bit inside the skull. There’s a narrower passage in front of the brain case that has some tissue left in it, it’s like it goes up toward the sinus or nasal passage. I have a dental pick a homemade Hook, knives, forceps, needle, nose, pliers, and assorted other gadgets and I simply cannot get a hold of this thing enough to pull it out, I’m pulling out tiny little pieces at a time, but the main chunk in there won’t budge.Any tips on removing this last bit?

Photo shows where Im talking about—looking into the hole where the spinal cord was, the last little chunk is circled in red.

View attachment 792313

I had good luck with a straw cleaning brush on a cordless drill to clean out a boar skull.

 

[180splitg3]

Hey guys. Revisiting this post. My boys shot deer this youth season and I have done maceration in the past but I tried simmering this time. Everything turned out well but I had a terrible time getting the heat regulated. I borrowed my friend's bass pro shops turkey fryer and it was nearly impossible to keep the heat at the same level. Is this known to be a junk burner setup? I think if I had a decent burner, this method would be better than maceration (the smell is awful). Any thoughts? I did clean the burner about an hour in but it didn't seem to help. The flame was not blue like I've seen on YouTube videos. Maybe there's another issue? Thanks for the help!

 

[Fitzwho]

I don’t use soda, soap, OXY clean or anything of that nature when simmering anything with antlers or until the horn sheaths come off (antelope/sheep/etc). Mainly because I don’t like wasting time wrapping antlers and straight water won’t discolor them.

AS FOR REMOVING BRAIN MATTER!!!

Don’t get brain on your face by blowing it out with the pressure washer. Before boiling (as long as the head isn’t frozen), wrap the head in a trash bag, use an air compressor and a pointy air gun, insert the air gun through the trash bag and into the brain cavity. Couple squirts and that brain plops right out. Makes a fun noise.

 

[OKHunter84]

That's a really good idea with the air gun and the brains. I've always just pressure washed it out and worn safety glasses.

As far as regulating the heat, I just use the side burner on my grill on low most the time. It's not a fancy setup and it's worked fine. If I shoot a buck in the morning then I'll have it on ice and the head done by that afternoon. It's an easy process. I just leave the skull natural color and then seal it once it dries out in a few days.

 

[30338]

For brains, before I macerate, or for sure before I would ever boil use this:

Amazon.com

You take a filet knife into the brain opening, twist it around and cut it up a bit. Then insert that device all the way to the front of the brain cavity. Then turn on the water and pressure them out. Takes like 2 minutes. Then the maceration or god forbid, the boiling goes way easier.

 

[go_deep]

Just got 2 week old brains in my mouth pressure washing it. This could possibly make me vomit.

Pro tip, keep your mouth shut....

 

[jhirschey]

I use a metal tent stake on a drill to make a slurry of the brain and rinse it out of the spinal cord hole with the garden hose. Add some dawn to the water when boiling helps breakdown the fat.