anyone have any pics of there mounts.im working on a hog head.any tips
Boil it in water w/ drain-o.
I did these deer by boiling.
(http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f196/jjeffer/skullmount.jpg)
I boil it a few hours then take it to the carwash and blast it off.. Hit the hole in the back of the skull and watch oout for flyin brain parts.. Let it dry and if ya wanna nice touch I use an approriate off white spray paint.. And if ya like you can rub stain on the horns to get the color to suit.
Look for someone that uses bettles to clean there heads and then bleach them, they are as clean as they can be, and white. Heres two Javies,I had done. :thumbsup:
(http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p118/lka60/DSCN0082.jpg)
When you boil the skulls do you have to be careful to keep the antlers out of the hot water to avoid taking the color out of them as well?
I have one I am going to try this year as well.
Heres proof that a trophy can live right under your nose and you never know it. Grew up living and hunting on the property where I found this. Was hunting from a stand in the creek bottom and seen him from the stand, already dead for several weeks. The oak board is 14 1/2" wide and 19 1/2" tall, a honest 150 incher
(http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p115/shepu812/mini-bowpics047.jpg)
I have done several (no pics currently). I boil them, then let 'em dry for a few days. Then I go to the hair salon supply store and get the strongest peroxide they have (it is by "weight" 30, 40, 50, 60 etc.).
This is the stuff they use to do those 2 or 3 tone hair dos with. What I get is the consistency of thick gravey and sticks to the skull real well. I put it on, let it sit for half a day, rinse and repete until they are the color I want.
OkKeith
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v333/vegas89/DSC01212.jpg)
This was the first one I did. Did it last year. I thought is turned out great and very easy to do.
Beetles are the way to go, cheap, fast, and perfect job. You can also bend stiff wire to make a wall-hanger thats invisable for skull mounts.
Nice pictures!
A couple of suggestions: I too have used peroxide with good results (sorry no pics). I wrapped cotten batting over the skull and have also wrapped a cotton cloth over one; than I poured the peroxide over the cloth and kept it wet by basting it now and then. Uses far less peroxide than a full soaking bath of the solution. I also read not to use bleach, as it tends to embrittle the bone. Lastly, be sure to wear some kind of eye protection when using any chemicals or cleaners, you only get one pair of eyes and there are no "do overs" if you get splashed!
There is the household Hydrogen Peroxide typically found in the Drug stores in a brown colored bottle. That stuff runs about 3%. Then there's the industrial strength stuff found at pool supply stores that runs about 30% strength. I understand that the industrial strength stuff will boil off your live skin. Has anyone ever used the industrial strength Peroxide to clean skull mounts? I understand that boiling will destroy the fragile nasal bones and bleaching will cause the bones to crack in time. I was wondering about the industrial strength peroxide? Anyone ever used it to clean skulls?
Put it in a plastic trash bag and stick it out side under a tub. The same beetles are under the ground. Wait 6 months and the beetles have done there job. Clean with peroxide, hang out in sun for a couple of days and it will be white as can be. All the teeth will be in the trash bag just glue them back in.
Go to a beauty supply store like "Sallie's" for the peroxide. Best I found was their 40% gel. Great for brushing on and it stays put.
Here is my alternaitve to expensive shoulder mounts. I do a few of these a year, for hunting buddies.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v483/Icetray68/horns23.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v483/Icetray68/bigmoose1.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v483/Icetray68/PC020003.jpg)
i got all the meet off.i just set it outside in a have a heart trap and the bugs cleaned it in 2 weeks.now i just have to clean it up.
Here's the hog I shot down at Curtis' place last year.
(http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y138/wesbrock/boar-skull.jpg)
Like Buffler Razz said, use eye protection.I got it on my skin and it turned me white and stung where the splashes got me.WARNING MJ, do not try this at home!
GRW - I'd love to see a build-a-long on making those mounts of yours. How do you do them?
BillJ
how long did you guys leave the peroxide on the heads?
beautiful job grw.is that leather stretched over the skull?
hey kasey ive only done a few but i believe the longer you leave the peroxide on the whiter the skull will become.however i dont soak them i just use a small paint brush and keep it wet.usually a couple days is plenty for me.
Don't forget to superglue the teeth in as they will fall out as it ages.
A couple things to keep in mind.
Some people like to preserve the delicate bones in the nasal passage, if you like them be very careful not to break them when cleaning that area. If you don't care, they can be broken away from the skull to leave a simple hole there.
Beetles are the best if you have access to them, very fast, does a good job and YOU don't have to much of the work. To speed up the process you can take out the eyes, tounge and cheek muscules.
If you choose to boil, take it slow. Just simmer the meat. The teeth may fall out, so don't just chuck the water out the door without looking first (does that sound like the voice of experience?). Use an old screw driver or something similar to loosen up the brains and help them out the hole. A stiff brush can be useful. Also, you can let the skull dry and some missed areas might show up, you can use a little sand paper.
Many here mentioned various ways to whiten the bone. Some people also like the "natural" coloration, take a good look at the skull before whitening to be sure you would not rather leave it as is.
One way NOT to clean a skull is to soak it in a bucket of water for 2 days, and then scrape it clean be hand. Some guy told me to do this, I was gulable enough to listen. It turns a somewhat dirty job into a disgusting job.
Juniper Bow
I keep reading about beetles. Where does one find these things?
woking on mine now also
(http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s73/catfishon/DSCN2020.jpg)
I have 2 that I have never bleached (whitened w/ peroxide).
Has anyone every used an off white satin spray paint instead?
I still have the nasal bones, but there are several tiny pieces of cartilage left up inside the nasal cavity. Do they need to be removed before bleaching? Is it possible to get it 100% clean before bleaching by using the boiling method?
Never used spray paint but did paint one with white primer using a brush. Can't even tell its painted unless you stare at it real hard from point blank distance.
Heres a hog i got in march
(http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f85/wtpops/IMG_2016.jpg)
(http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f85/wtpops/IMG_2014.jpg)
QuoteOriginally posted by BillJ:
I keep reading about beetles. Where does one find these things?
Do an internet search for " Dermestid Beetle "
Lot of info on the net. Beware, I have never ordered from anyone online, but have been thinking about setting myself up to this.