DIY euro mount...

Second time doing my own euro. Skinned out the head and boiled for around three hours. Still a lot of tissue left in the nasal cavities. Should I be boiling the entire time, or just a slow simmer? I used a pressure washer after the boil and got it mostly clean. Also, I’m splitting the nose bones during the process. I figure I can super glue the nose pieces back on when I’m done. So, what am I doing wrong? Thanks for the help.

Did you use soap or detergent during the boil?

I did not

I am certainly no taxidermist, but I have done several of my own euro mounts. I buy a kit from Van Dykes Taxidermy supply. It comes with EVERTHING you need to do it. Including instructions. I think what has happened is that you've boiled it too long. The way I've done mine in the past is to skin it as soon as possible. Get the skull as clean as you can. Then I let it hang in our barn for as long as I can, typically over a year (this may be over kill, but that's usually how long it takes me to get to it). Then I will try and get as much of whatever is left off before I boil it. This way, I can keep boiling to a minimum. From there, you can bleach it and mount it on the included plaque. It took me a few times to figure it out, but once you do, they'll turn out nice. good luck!

https://www.vandykestaxidermy.com/K7193-P50.aspx

I’ll look into that, thanks.

Check out white bone creations on YouTube. That guy has it down!

You seem to be boiling way to long. That's probably what's splitting the nose.

The nasal plates are splitting bc you boiled the cartilage out. At the end of your process soak the skull in water for about a day, take it out and the bones will have softened up, use a tie wrap to hold everything together until the bone dries out, remove the tie wrap and put a bead of Elmer's school glue, wiping off the excess and replace the tie wrap, you should be good to go.

Sounds good, thanks.

Dont boil future skulls so long and add some soap. I actually leave my stripped down skulls in a bucket of water for a couple weeks to let it macerate, change the water when it gets ripe, then boil. I only boil for 1- 1 1/2 hr and most of the tissue will fall off with only small bits to clean off. You should degrease your clean skull in soapy water before bleaching or it will yellow with time. I put mine in a 5 gallon bucket with 1/2 cup dishwashing liquid outside for a week or so. Stir and agitate daily. For bleaching, I paint mine with 40 peroxide from Sally Beauty, put it in a black garbage bag and set in the sun for 2 days. It has made my mounts a lot whiter than in the past. Rinse well, dry and you are done.

Thanks for the info.

I do about 200 euros a year 1.Skin the head and get everything off you can bottom jaw and as much meat as possible while fresh freeze if you don't have time 2. bring water to a boil with either borax soap or soda ash then power wash until clean may have to reboil for a few minutes to loosen the meat and such again 3. let dry a day or two repeat the process to degrease but only for about 10-15 minutes 4. let dry a day or two then boil in liquid peroxide the strongest your local sallys has in stock for about 10 to 15min. let dry in the sun for 2 hours and your good!! Or just bring it to me and ill charge you $85

As TAT mentioned, Whitebone Creations, has it down pretty good. I've done quite a few w/his method and they've all turned out real nice, hog and deer.

You got the process down. Looks good.