Who’s done them? How much work and how was the experience?
Doing my first now, currently on the second round of boiling.

Will pressure wash again after and try to bleach/peroxide tomorrow or Monday.

I may screw it up, but I also can’t see paying some of the cost do have it done.prices this year I’ve seen $145-$300 for a euro mount lately. $300 seems extremely high, granted it was a well known place.

Kind of doing one now. After you boil most everything off and pressure wash, I put mine in a 5 gallon bucket full of water and Dawn. Left it in there for several weeks, bringing it out to scrape it every now and then.

We will have to compare. I’ve boiled twice with Dawn in my water, and just using a pressure washer. Made it this far in 3 hours. Will confirm brain matter is cleaned out tomorrow, one more pressure wash and bleach skull afterwards.

Lots of good videos on YouTube

Instructions:
Protect antlers do not submerge in water wrap the bottom 4/6" in foil to keep from turning white during boiling.
Boil with Boraxo soap helps breakdown meat/tissue.
Remove from water and pressure wash from time to time
When you think your done boiling and pressure washing do some more. You have to get all the meat/tissue removed. Skull should not stink!
Dump and change water, get water warm add dawn soap place head in water and scrub with brush to remove grease/oil.
Look to see if any nose bones or teeth have fallen off. Save to glue on later with super glue.
Rinse with water and let dry.
Go to a beauty supply store and get 40% hydrogen peroxide solution and 2 packages of Basic white bleaching powder. Mix one package in peroxide until solution is like a runny gravy. Coat skull with a throw away paint brush inside and out. Cover antlers so they don't get bleached white.
Let dry over night. Rinse off with water. If not white enough do it again with second package of basic white.
Let dry for about a week spray skull with a mat finish lacquer. Don't use varathane it will yellow over time.
You can thank me later.
NOTE: Don't use bleach to whiten it will turn the skull chalky.

Lived on Padre island since 1998 till last year processed over 20 heads while living on canal

Just put them in canal for about 1 1/2 months The crabs and sea life cleaned them better than any process available. Might have a couple barnacles to scrape off but every bone even minute ear drums were intact .

Soaked in bleach water over night and they were ready to mount.

Never going to pay for a euro again after doing several myself. I feel like I got my process dialed-in this year (did 3)

1. Cut as much meat off of the skull as possible.
2. Boil with dawn soap and baking soda. Dawn cuts grease and baking soda helps break down tissue. **Note: don't over-boil. I made this mistake and the delicate bones get really brittle**
3. Periodically check the skull while boiling. Power wash as you see fit. The greatest benefit of the power washer, in my opinion, is being able to blow the brain matter out. Just aim the washer in the spinal cavity and it should blow everything out clean.
4. Once its clean, let the skull dry completely (maybe overnight - depends on humidity).
5. Use 40v peroxide developer for whitening. The cream is easier to work with than the liquid. **Note: protect the bottom of the antlers or you'll whiten them too**
6. Wash the developer off and apply more coats if necessary.

As they say, there's more than one way to skin a cat, but this worked very well for me. Takes some time, but it's not very labor intensive.


Here's the whitener I use: 40v Peroxide Developer

Pretty simple to do just time consuming especially if you get lazy with it.




I won’t do a hog or bear though.


Simple-process
skin/trim
Boil-
Pressure wash-
Re-boil with clean water and degreaser(Botox, Dawn)
Then coat/soak in 40% peroxide
Wash/dry
Seal with flat ploy spray