Skull turns dark/ black euro mount issue

[CoHunter1991]

Over the last 7 years I have done 20 or so Euro mounts of deer and pronghorn for my family. I have used the same pot and same process for each of them. The first step I do is boil the semi cleaned skulls in plain water then power wash. About every other year a skull I do this first step to turns black. The whitening process usually does a good job correcting this but it scares me every time. Does this happen to anyone else? Why does this happen? See pics below from today’s. Thanks

 

[ElDiablito]

I get that in some of the skulls I do. I wouldn’t call it black - more like brown/blue/purple. Comes out in the peroxide simmer.

 

[Robobiss]

Y’all are going to hang me for this one…

Instead of whitening the skull, just mask off the antlers and spray paint the skull white. That way you don’t have to worry about what color it turns. Works like a dream.

 

[ElDiablito]

Y’all are going to hang me for this one…

Instead of whitening the skull, just mask off the antlers and spray paint the skull white. That way you don’t have to worry about what color it turns. Works like a dream.

A bad dream…..

 

[Robobiss]

A bad dream…..

“Taxidermists hate this one simple trick” .

 

[ElDiablito]

“Taxidermists hate this one simple trick” .

Uhh huh.

When your truck is dirty, do you wash it or spray paint over the dirt?

 

[Robobiss]

Uhh huh.

When your truck is dirty, do you wash it or spray paint over the dirt?

Not exactly apples to apples. The skull is “clean” already, the meat, fat, sinew, brain matter, grease, etc has been removed with the boiling, dish soap, pressure washer etc.You can then either bleach it, paint it, or leave it natural if you want.

I’m not saying skip steps 1-6 and paint a meaty, nasty, greasy skull. I’m saying instead of worrying about bleaching it, just paint it. And 99% of people that looked at it would never know that you did it. I feel like you get more consistent color, too.

 

[ElDiablito]

And 99% of people that looked at it would never know that you did it. I feel like you get more consistent color, too.

Maybe. The painted skulls I’ve seen looked like sh!t. I’ve done hundreds with peroxide and they look much better.

 

[MuleyFever]

I have never liked the bleached white look. I leave mine as is. I like the contrast in the bone.

 

[30338]

Take a look at doing some via maceration. Very simple, and not very time consumming.

 

[SloppyJ]

Take a look at doing some via maceration. Very simple, and not very time consumming.

Any tips? I'd like to try this next time.

 

[30338]

You need a 5 gallon bucket or perhaps an old cooler or 15 gallon horse pail. I use home depot buckets for deer and antelope. Then buy 2 of the glass tank heaters off amazon or ebay. Anything like this will work:

Amazon.com

After one week, remove head and power spray with garden hose and sprayer. Not high pressure. If anything is still sticking to skull, back in the rot bucket. If not, rinse well. Then using same heaters, add clean hot water to bucket and squirt in dawn soap. Soak head for 2-3 days, rinse off, change out water, and resoak. Keep repeating this till fat stops floating off. Important step and you want to take your time here.

After it is degreased, coat well with gel peroxide. Let that sit a day or two, rinse off and inspect. If white enough, you are done. If not, recoat and repeat.

The rot process is quite smelly. Outdoor shed or barn is ideal. Good luck.

 

[ElDiablito]

You need a 5 gallon bucket or perhaps an old cooler or 15 gallon horse pail. I use home depot buckets for deer and antelope. Then buy 2 of the glass tank heaters off amazon or ebay. Anything like this will work:

Amazon.com

After one week, remove head and power spray with garden hose and sprayer. Not high pressure. If anything is still sticking to skull, back in the rot bucket. If not, rinse well. Then using same heaters, add clean hot water to bucket and squirt in dawn soap. Soak head for 2-3 days, rinse off, change out water, and resoak. Keep repeating this till fat stops floating off. Important step and you want to take your time here.

After it is degreased, coat well with gel peroxide. Let that sit a day or two, rinse off and inspect. If white enough, you are done. If not, recoat and repeat.

The rot process is quite smelly. Outdoor shed or barn is ideal. Good luck.

Yeah that sounds way easier and quicker than boiling and simmering in peroxide.

 

[wytx]

Never simmered in peroxide, use it after the simmer.

 

[WCB]

Yeah that sounds way easier and quicker than boiling and simmering in peroxide.

It is a longer process. simmering/boiling I can have a head done in 2-2.5hrs. 90% of that the skull is sitting in the pot and I am doing something else. The rot method you still have to change water and spray it of so actual "working time" is similar. I can come back from a hunt on Sunday afternoon and have the head hanging in my house by Wednesday. And I don't have rotting bucket of slop to deal with.

 

[MakAttack]

The dark spots look like blood in the bone showing through. I agree that the boil/pressure wash/ boil in swimming pool grade peroxide is super fast and turns out great. 2-3 hours and it's done. Look up Whitebone Creations on youtube.

 

[cnelk]

Soak the skull with dark spots in ammonia

 

[Weldor]

20 Mule team Borax when simmering, I let mine sit in the sun with a peroxide soak for a week. No discoloration's .