First time euro skull question

[gtriple]

I’m in the process of doing my first euro skull mounts for a pair of deer using a warm water maceration. I soaked them at 90 degrees in water for about 3 weeks until all of the meat was gone. I flipped the water every 2 days. Then I soaked them in water with dawn for 2 weeks while flipping the water every 2 days again.

But the skulls look like they still have grease in them. I’ve let them dry in the pictures below. Neither skull necessarily stinks, but I don’t want to whiten them if the brown areas are still holding grease.

Thoughts or recommendations?

 

[TimberRunner]

Don't look horrible, but still some fat in those bones. Would try another week with 1 change. Do dish soap and Borax. At least that's what I've used.

Or you could try whitening and see how they turn out and if not happy, go back and soak again.

 

[gtriple]

Don't look horrible, but still some fat in those bones. Would try another week with 1 change. Do dish soap and Borax. At least that's what I've used.

Or you could try whitening and see how they turn out and if not happy, go back and soak again.

I read that once you whiten them, it "sets in" the grease. Is that not true?

 

[30338]

If you whiten with paste peroxide, you can go back and soak again if needed. I'd try to heat your water to 120 or as close as you can get and go with dawn and borax as mentioned above. Stay patient.

 

[butcherboy]

You need to use warm water in the degreasing step. Around 105-110 degrees. If you go hotter then you risk ruining the skull. If you do go hotter then don’t leave it for very long. Use dawn soap and ammonia, not borax. You only need to change the degreasing water when it gets cloudy. Looks like your skull has more blood stains than grease. Grease usually looks shiny and blood is dark. Takes time to do a proper degreasing. If you cold soak for degreasing then you need to use acetone.

 

[Amos Keeto]

Honestly, I've only done one Euro mount.
A friend loaned me his "Buck Boiler Bucket" (Wal-Mart?).

Remove as much material as possible.
Tongue, eyeballs, cheeks, lips, etc, etc.
The antlers were wrapped in tinfoil up to the brow tine junction.
A few drops of Dawn and a good dollop of hydrogen peroxide was added.
It actually "cooked" about 2 days.
After that, about $3 or $4 in quarters at the local car wash and then hang to dry.
No odor at all!
Admittedly, after drying, a sharp utility knife and a little gristle removal was still required.

NOTE: DO NOT shove the nozzle into the brain cavity and squeeze the handle fully! LOL!

 

[Joseph2186]

Keep the water around 120 when degreasing only need to change it every couple weeks. I do some regular dawn , and go to ace hardware and get the janitor grade ammonia and dump a little in there with it . Itll take a good month or 2 to get the grease out on a deer ive done bear for 3 or 4 months.