Skull cap cleaning??

[Strother23]

Since this year I got my 1st buck I'm wanting to do a skull cap mount. I've heard a couple different ways on how to clean it. Like boil it or scrub it with bleach/salt or let Beatles clean it. Just curious how people recommend to clean it on here. What the best or easiest way to get it good and clean? Thanks. I plan to post a pic of it finished on the plaque when it done.

[00buck]

be careful on boiling it my first one i boiled out side it didnt turn out so great well it may have but my neighbors dog carried it off while i was in the house and chewed the shit out of the rack my buddy uses a fish tank and beetles i think but they look good

[mrbb]

I know this is a long shot, but we have a few local state run places that have them beatles that eat flesh/meat, and they charge like 25 bucks or so, you drop off the skull, they give it to the bucks, and the dam things come out spotless, no boiling needed
many then spray paint them a brighter white
I would think many states have this option if you track down the rght dept
I think it was state run school that offered this service
they just ran it on my local outdoors TV show
PA outdoor life, WNep tv
They have a e mail address, I would think you contact them and get more info if you like, to find out if there are any near you
was pretty cool how they turned out, and save you a lot of work

[mrbb]

just did a quick look , and din't find the link I was looking for, but seen a ton of taxidermist offer this service, and here is a youtube video too
maybe a shop near you can do it for you too??
I would think they would maybe charge more, but again they come out pretty spotless LOL

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wnaZEGk07JQ

[mrbb]

think this was the show I seen it on

http://wnep.com/2013/02/10/cceec-skull-cleaning/

[nomad_archer]

By skull cap do you mean a euro type mount that involves the entire skull or just the antlers and a small portion of the skull connecting the two antlers. If it is the later you can always get an antler mounting kit which provided a piece of leather or fabric that covers the skull cap. If you plan on doing the later, I have put table salt on the under side (brain) side of the skull cap to pull the moisture out and let it dry for several months. Then I mount it to the plaque and put the skull cap cover on. They look good. This is just another option

[Strother23]

Thanks for all the advice. The skull cap mount I'm doing isn't the whole skull just a small portion under the antlers. And il be putting a cover over the skull part on a plaque. I will have to look local for the Beatles to clean in. Hopefully it won't take months to do. I'm excited to get it on a plaque.

[mrbb]

well if your going to cover it then it doens't have to look pretty
in that case, just dry it out in some salt, once its dry and hard, use a wire wheel in a drill, and scrap the crap off, and it will be just fine to cover
I used to do that yrs back to some smaller rack bucks I killed I used to get things like this from taxidermy supply companys, they were fair priced and made it look nice I thought, used to make the wooden backers myself too!

http://i1190.photobucket.com/albums/z457/mrbb1/001_zps05e71ecc.jpg (http://s1190.photobucket.com/user/mrbb1/media/001_zps05e71ecc.jpg.html)

[nomad_archer]

Like MRBB said. Not need to look pretty. I usually but a little fur away from the bases of the antlers after it is dry and mount it with most of the fur still on. Never had an issue.

[mrbb]

well crap, many yrs back I used to just cut them off scratch out the brains and just stick them on a backer, and be done with it, never boiled or scraped anything the hair on them just stuck as is, afy=ter putting some salt on them for a few weeks, shake it off and all done
not as pretty on the eye's I am told by some women I have had over, but?? hell in the hunting place I never cared about looking pretty! LOL
I did like these backers that held a photo too, thought that was a cool touch, hard to find now a days, but think they still sell them, and sure its a easy think to make on one too if your handy at all!
here is a couple more to look at for maybe some idea's
the one has the hair still on and they other again was just placed in saly for a shile, and then scrapped a little

http://i1190.photobucket.com/albums/z457/mrbb1/002_zps97e2e8f8.jpg (http://s1190.photobucket.com/user/mrbb1/media/002_zps97e2e8f8.jpg.html)

http://i1190.photobucket.com/albums/z457/mrbb1/003_zps5e758f17.jpg (http://s1190.photobucket.com/user/mrbb1/media/003_zps5e758f17.jpg.html)

[Bigcity]

They also make a very realistic looking plastic skull, I think "bone collector" has their own style for about $40.00 where you simply cut the antlers from the skull plate, drill a couple of holes in the base of the antlers and attach them to the plastic skull with screws to complete the european mount that I must admit looks pretty much the same as the natural ones. And for a whole lot less than a taxidermist or the dermestid beetles.