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@sheltonheath9165 Жыл бұрын
I am 67 years old & have been using cold water maceration since 1982..Absolutely the best method for cleaning skulls ! I’ve tried em all. Boiling skulls is a rookie’s mistake that will ruin skulls. It makes them brittle, flakey,,cracks, & will shrink the bone tremendously. It will destroy a bear skull shrinking it reducing the B & C score by 1/2” to 3/4” or more after the 60 drying out period that B & C requires before measuring the skull to qualify for the record book.. I learned this the hard way even tho the bear skull was record book measuring 21” after completing the drying out period. It could have been almost 22” as that was the green score before boiling. Boiler beware ! Cold water maceration and Dawn will give You the best & most professional results by far !
@crystalinlouisiana79 Жыл бұрын
Have you ever had a problem with any that stink after maceration? I tried maceration for the first time recently on 3 deer skulls, I usually boil my deer. I really like the maceration method a lot better but the antlers still smell bad. I whiten the skulls and they smell fine but the antlers stink! The skulls are super clean, there isn't anything on them that would leave a smell, it's the antlers. I've tried soaking them in dawn and water with baking soda, Lysol, Nature's Miracle Odor remover, nothing helps
@LittleRayOfSnshine6910 ай бұрын
Bone shrinks as it dries, boiled or not. I've heard of people who have used beatles and still had a considerable amount of shrinkage as the skull dried over the years.
@jeffbyrd28032 жыл бұрын
Brother. One taxidermist to another. That was a great interesting tip. I pick and choose what I do and how much I take in.. I dont normally do about couple dozen of European a season. Boil and go. The only draw back other then it a long process is that it takes up freezer space. I like your method. I will try it. Thanks again brother.. Byrd TAXIDERMY Alabama
@thecedarridgechronicles2 жыл бұрын
I was almost ready to do away with taking European mounts all together. After I tried this, It made it one of the easiest things I can make money on! It's a nasty process, but the labor is nearly zero. Just be sure to change your water often or have a place where you won't mind the smell. All you have to do is skin it, remover the bottom jaw and tongue, and submerge it. 6-8 weeks later all you have to do is remove all the tissue from the bone (which basically falls off) and I do a low boil for about 15 minutes with dawn dishwashing liquid and water to degrease, deodorize, and sanitize and it is the cleanest skull you'll ever see.
@jeffbyrd28032 жыл бұрын
@@thecedarridgechronicles brother believe it or not I'm excited to give it a try. Other then that I would always dread it. Thanks again brother
@alphasig218 Жыл бұрын
Burried mine up to the antler base, hide and all. Put an old wash tub over it with a heavy rock on top. Let it sit for 8 months and came out clean. sprayed off and put salon care 40 on it and done. Only downtime, took 8 months but zero labor.
@jeff_8789 Жыл бұрын
Boil mine in Oxi clean for an hr then pressure wash then boil in peroxide mix for abt half hr an rinse let dry and coat with mop n glo there pure white and on the wall few hrs after there dead my buddy has a business doing all skulls and this is his method
@tammymorris2577 Жыл бұрын
Thanks for the great tips, excellent video!!
@thecedarridgechronicles Жыл бұрын
Thank you!
@TheHunter6110 ай бұрын
Awesome video thanks
@corndawg72289 ай бұрын
Great info
@christophergentile74642 жыл бұрын
Nice
@dhan70722 жыл бұрын
Will definitely be switching to this method. Thanks for sharing this info sir.
@cletusharper4037 ай бұрын
I bury mine up to the bases, put a milk crate with a concrete block on top. I check it in 3 months, if it’s good I hose it off. I soak in peroxide/water mix for a few days. Good to go.
@davidbright1489 Жыл бұрын
I know this is a old video but this is how I do it. I put my deer heads in a 5 gallon bucket with an aquarium heater set to 80 degrees (probably could go lower). Fill with water then add in a beer. Takes about 2-3 weeks to have everything off the bone. I do refresh the water weekly. Down side is it smells terrible so I put this far away from the house with a trash bag over it. Next deer I’m gonna try the cold water though.
@thecedarridgechronicles Жыл бұрын
Warm water maceration is definitely faster, but I don't have time to mess with skulls until after deer season. That's why I use cold water. For speed though, I would stick with warm water if you want it fast. Don't need the beer though lol just drink it.
@falentines10 ай бұрын
@@thecedarridgechroniclesgotta pour one out for the homie who is giving you the skull 😂
@johnbowhunter76762 жыл бұрын
Great information!… funny ending!😆
@thecedarridgechronicles2 жыл бұрын
Thanks 😂
@frankpurciful7926 Жыл бұрын
AWESOME TIP. I did antelope similar. Can't get all the stink off horns. They came off the first week
@colemaloy68772 жыл бұрын
Put it in oxyclean/water boil.it for 20min pressure wash it. reboil in chemical for 15 min set out to dry takes me 2 days start to finsh beautiful white skulls
@jeremylawson71542 жыл бұрын
Fantastic tip brother! Thx
@kreggdanuser296310 ай бұрын
Thank you sir!
@travclement9778 Жыл бұрын
Interesting… I’ll have to try this next time. I cape mine then boil for about 5 hours then pressure wash them. It works okay.
@hunt_trap_fish Жыл бұрын
Boil 3-4 hours. Pressure wash. Boil again in CLEAN water, 3-4 hrs with dawn to degrease. Pressure wash anything remaining off 'em. Change water and put 1gal peroxide w/4-5 gals cold water. Go from cold to a hard simmer -- should be 30mins to an hour -- remove, spray off, and dunk in the peroxide water one last time for 30 seconds to reactivate the peroxide you washed off, and set to the side to dry. It works great. I'm totally going to try the cold water version on an otter skull I have layin around.
@robertmumaw6720 Жыл бұрын
I did my 1st skall last year, I did the boil for removing everything. Then took it to the car wash. I shot him in Nov and did it in March. He came out amazing if I may say so myself. But needless to say the people next door didn't like me. This year I got me a massive 10 point that puts my 10 point skull to same. So I'm having him shoulder mounted. Got this older man doing it that all my friends use. But it's a minimum of 10 to 12 months with a nice price tag. But he does everything in house himself and has some of the best work I've ever seen in person. And I can't wait to see my early season buck again
@itcouldbekevin1220 Жыл бұрын
I did my first this way also. You’ll regret it later. Warm water maceration is by far a better result
@shawnevans4662 Жыл бұрын
Great Video! Question: does submerging those antlers in that cankered water discolor the bases?
@thecedarridgechronicles Жыл бұрын
No it doesn't
@traphuntnstuff80962 жыл бұрын
Maceration is by far the best way to clean a skull. The smell is horrendous but the finished product is absolutely beautiful. I use a similar method but use a bucket warmer wrap to keep the water warm. It seems to speed up the process. Changing the water often also reduces the chance of the antler bases becoming stained. I also find the Dawn dish soap degreasing is a little more effective in warm water.
@williamlewis5536 Жыл бұрын
Can you do a velvet buck like this? Used your video for my last euro and turned out better than any of my previous ones!! Awesome
@thecedarridgechronicles Жыл бұрын
I'm sure you can, but the velvet would need to be preserved prior to maceration so it wouldn't rot, and then you would definitely not want it submerged.
@buckydoedowner9040 Жыл бұрын
I can have one done and just as nice and white as yours in about the time it would take me to watch this video 12 times... but it was interesting to hear about a method i havent ever heard. I prefer to get them done before they even think about stinking.
@thecedarridgechronicles Жыл бұрын
I can too, but I prefer not to touch them until I get all my shoulder mounts in and taken care of. There isn't enough time to babysit skulls while receiving shoulders and answering calls.
@buckydoedowner9040 Жыл бұрын
@@thecedarridgechronicles understood!
@thecedarridgechronicles Жыл бұрын
@@buckydoedowner9040 do you boil or simmer yours, or do you use an aquarium heater? This next season I believe I'm going to get an aquarium heater to use in a large ice chest and maybe do a batch every couple weeks rather than have to clean nearly 100 after the season ends
@buckydoedowner9040 Жыл бұрын
@@thecedarridgechronicles I simmer for about an hr, then pressure wash the majority off. Then simmer another 20-30minute and then one last blast with pressure washer.(using a tip that won't cause damage). Let dry a bit then apply whitener of your choice. I use a peroxide/baking soda paste.
@buckydoedowner9040 Жыл бұрын
@@thecedarridgechronicles I boiled my first couple years ago for hours until the meat fell off but it opened cracks in the skull and made them more brittle so i got away from that. Now i just let the pressure washer do most the work. They turn out great. Its a little messy so i wear full rain gear. lol I can usually have them from hide on to on a plaque in 3 hrs aslong as their somewhat fresh kills. They seem to need more whitening the older/longer they sit around in the hide though. So i like them fresh.
@jimkeller55382 жыл бұрын
I just take them to my beetle guy. He calls me when they’re done. Lol. I just got one in two days ago. Maybe I’ll try mace ration. I hate boiling them. I’ve done it just not my thing. Thanks for all the tips. I’ve been doing taxidermy a long time but I’m always eager to find a better way to do something.
@hunt_trap_fish Жыл бұрын
@TheCedarRidgeChronicles do you think I could do this w/an otter skull? I saved the ONE otter I caught so far in my trapping career, and I'd love to paint and display it, but pressure washing is going to wreck it.
@thecedarridgechronicles Жыл бұрын
Yes it will work with nearly anything
@hunt_trap_fish Жыл бұрын
@@thecedarridgechronicles awesome thank you!
@adamwoerner556711 ай бұрын
What if I already boiled and pressure washed. Will it still work with letting the skull sit in cold water with dawn to draw out the grease? Thanks.
@thecedarridgechronicles11 ай бұрын
I think it would help for sure, but probably do better at a simmer
@heathfaber3415 Жыл бұрын
A little off topic but I was wondering what kind of Mackenzie form you guys use for northeastern whitetails
@thecedarridgechronicles Жыл бұрын
They have sizes for nearly any size on most of their forms
@justinkelly2880 Жыл бұрын
Do you have to refresh the water or can I just leave the heads in the original water I put them in. I've had couple heads soaking for close to a month and the tissue hasn't released yet.
@thecedarridgechronicles Жыл бұрын
Change the water out weekly if it's cold and every couple days if it's warm. There are anaerobic and aerobic bacteria that will break down the flesh, and the aerobic will multiply with the extra oxygen from fresh water and speed the process. It will still take a couple months in cold water.
@WWTs-20212 жыл бұрын
I once put my peroxide in to boil the meat off instead of my degreaser (oxi clean) and boiled it for 20 minutes before I realized then switched it out for my degreaser and it did better than the normal process. Thought maybe I found a new way lol but I’m afraid to try it again. The skull was super white and the meat came off easier.
@thecedarridgechronicles2 жыл бұрын
I have heard of someone boiling with water and peroxide, and that is works great, it have never tried it
@WWTs-20212 жыл бұрын
@@thecedarridgechronicles I always have trouble getting all the teeth completely white but I’m gonna try your method this time and see how it goes for me.
@thecedarridgechronicles2 жыл бұрын
Check out my skull whitening video. It will change your life lol!
@WWTs-20212 жыл бұрын
Haha! For sure I will! Thanks!
@rob701TurkeyGuy10 ай бұрын
Warm water maceration is faster and helps loosen the fat. Bucket heaters or aquarium heater.
@thecedarridgechronicles10 ай бұрын
That’s what I use the majority of the time
@killintime84312 жыл бұрын
For sheep,goat ,antelope I like to boil the horn sheaths off to cut the horn cores down and clean them out. I’m wondering will the sheath come off by soaking them in the cold water or will it just damage them from soaking them that long
@thecedarridgechronicles2 жыл бұрын
That is a very good question. I feel like they should probably come off first. I'll try and get my hands on one to experiment with.
@killintime84312 жыл бұрын
@@thecedarridgechronicles 👍👍👍👍
@sea_wolf Жыл бұрын
You are correct about maceration being the way to go but getting your info from Facebook isn't going to get you 100% of what you need. Letting things just sit for months isn't good for customer work. Bogs you down and makes for impatient folks wanting their stuff. The correct way to do maceration is to HEAT the water. Low heat, but it still needs heat for this to be done correctly in a professional shop. I have taught folks this method for years and use it myself in preference to all other forms of cleaning, especially boiling. You are correct that bugs need to be fed and maintained. But using cold water isn't the way. When teaching folks, especially younger ones that want to experiment with this, the common cry I hear is that of "I don't want to or can't spend any money, don't have any money". Telling folks that cold water works is only saying that you didn't want to spend the money to do it right (not you personally but the Facebook user whose info you are using). A 300 watt, submersible aquarium heater is not a big expense. Neither would 4 or 5 of them be if it doubled your cash intake for mounts. There are also wrap around bucket heaters that have seriously come down in price over the past few years. Your water needs to be constantly heated to at least 80 degrees to 90 and not more than that. Your skulls will be clean in 2 WEEKS .. not 3 months or more. This is one tutorial I have put online to show folks how to do this. Is just type and photos, not a video. There is at least one other tutorial done with a mountain lion head in the tutorial section and a ton of other threads in the Skull and Skeleton section. Take a look, read the other tutorial and try heat. Doubling your output isn't a bad thing as well as the heat allows the bacteria to really eat the grease out of them as well. Cold water just solidifies the grease and makes it a lot harder to remove. www.taxidermy.net/threads/125253/ the mountain lion post is here www.taxidermy.net/threads/338002/
@thecedarridgechronicles Жыл бұрын
Awesome I'll try that out
@thecedarridgechronicles Жыл бұрын
Do you use buckets, or can you use an ice chest
@sea_wolf Жыл бұрын
@@thecedarridgechronicles I use a lot of 5 gal buckets. I have also used chests and cut down chemical barrels from places like car washes etc (free). the biggest trick is insulating the containers to keep the heat in. Insulating keeps the heat steady and helps with electricity as the heaters are not cycling all the time in cold weather. Antlers pose a problem but disposable sections of bubble wrap can be pushed around the antlers at the bucket surface and it does help. The chemical barrels can be cut to a height that goes above the antlers and insulation can be put over the top and not be touching the water surface. Also remember you are working with flesh eating bacteria. Gloves should be worn and if you have any cuts do not allow the maceration fluid to get anywhere near them.
@sea_wolf Жыл бұрын
I have also experimented with making an enclosure, heating that to 90 degrees and then keeping the buckets inside. The buckets get heated from the ambient temp in the enclosure and you do not have to cover or insulate the buckets. Can't post a photo but the enclosure was made of panels of the pink foundation foam. Walls and top, ground inside was bare. Had 14 5gal buckets in there and a few bins and it worked great.
@thecedarridgechronicles Жыл бұрын
Ok great. And yes I poked myself on a piece of twist tie wire while messing with skulls a few years back and basically injected myself with flesh eating bacteria. Got sore the next day and the following day I knew I had a problem! 3 shots and a week of antibiotics later I was fine. 😂
@rob701TurkeyGuy10 ай бұрын
Beetles create more work. All year round pet. Get stuck in the skull. Stink badly. Gotta keep warm but not hot and dry. Will fly and can get into.your carpet amd mounts. Watch for mites. Set and forget but more work.
@theherb-ivore9082 Жыл бұрын
Hey do u happen 2 have any videos on how 2 make a deer skin rug?
@thecedarridgechronicles Жыл бұрын
I don't, but I don't break leather. It would have to be softened after drying
@theherb-ivore9082 Жыл бұрын
@@thecedarridgechronicles any suggestion 4 channels 2 watch about doing it? Thanks 4 your time by the way
@thecedarridgechronicles Жыл бұрын
I sure don't, but I would maybe look up some tannery channels
@williamlewis5536 Жыл бұрын
What’s the hair products you paint it with after boiling? Can’t find it
@thecedarridgechronicles Жыл бұрын
40 volume peroxide and BW whitening powder. You can get them at beauty supply stores like Sally's
@williamlewis5536 Жыл бұрын
@@thecedarridgechronicles thank you sir!
@jasonpine11422 жыл бұрын
So u just soak the skull cape in cold water also
@thecedarridgechronicles2 жыл бұрын
I'll skin the head and remove the bottom jaw first unless it had been sitting outside for weeks and has dried out
@keithblankenship1883 Жыл бұрын
thank u sir
@thecedarridgechronicles Жыл бұрын
Yessir
@stevechance4422 Жыл бұрын
How do I get wood stain off my deer skull??
@thecedarridgechronicles Жыл бұрын
Peroxide will probably lighten it, but I'm not sure it will get rid of it. You may have to spot spray it with some ultra matte white or ivory paint
@011CJ2 жыл бұрын
Ok I'm done doing it any other way thanks for the vid
@thecedarridgechronicles2 жыл бұрын
Hahaha you're welcome
@deannakoa32 жыл бұрын
How much do you do Euro skulls for ?
@thecedarridgechronicles2 жыл бұрын
$85 without a plaque, $125 with
@jasonnester95142 жыл бұрын
I boil and have a skull super white and grease free in a day how did it take u so long
@thecedarridgechronicles2 жыл бұрын
I'm caping and fleshing for shoulder mounts all deer season. Maceration takes no maintenance and allows me to work on tanning. Also, I'm not standing over a boiling pot for 100+ skulls a year
@jasonnester95142 жыл бұрын
@@thecedarridgechronicles don’t blame u there 100plus wow I’m lucky if I get 30 shoulder mounts lol not many deer killed around here
@thecedarridgechronicles2 жыл бұрын
@@jasonnester9514 I'm in Alabama and we have 4 months and 10 days of deer season haha! It never ends
@jasonnester95142 жыл бұрын
@@thecedarridgechronicles I’m in Ohio we have also 4 months of season I guess guys don’t kill many in my area I know it’s been 10 years since I even seen a big one it’s just crazy
@thecedarridgechronicles2 жыл бұрын
@@jasonnester9514 we have gun season open from Nov. 1 till Feb. 10. Lots of time to get a big one. Plus we get 3 bucks a year and baiting is legal. I haven't seen a big one here this year. Only when I went to Missouri lol
@carlkelley326 Жыл бұрын
I bury mine and they are free from flesh and hide but they are usually brown stained and don’t look as good
@thecedarridgechronicles Жыл бұрын
Yeah the minerals in the soil will stain the bone and also you are left with the yellowing from the grease
@roonbooks14182 жыл бұрын
What boiling does is opens the bone up,then the fat etc. Gets reabsorbed back into the open pores. Just my 2 cents worth
@thecedarridgechronicles2 жыл бұрын
Yep. Also dissolves all the cartilage and makes the bones fall apart
@jasonnester95142 жыл бұрын
@@thecedarridgechronicles never had an issue with that
@thecedarridgechronicles2 жыл бұрын
@@jasonnester9514 it's not a problem if the skull is fresh and the water isn't heated too hot for too long
@jasonnester95142 жыл бұрын
@@thecedarridgechronicles I get same results with rotten dead heads to one day boil and whiten idk man
@dudejrryan2 жыл бұрын
I've had folks tell me to put them in an ant bed,never tried it...I have three dogs myself & foxes, coyotes & bobcats around here. The bigger problem is good old Georgia red dirt & clay which seems to be the preffered dirt of fire ants.If that stuff gets in bone I have never seen anything that will remove it totally. I've always boiled them myself & like you said it is a time consuming overrated process.😂. May have to give your technique a try, way to hot right now. Looks like you are working in a cooler...are you?
@thecedarridgechronicles2 жыл бұрын
Sort of. My shop is made out of used cooler panels. Hahaha
@nuffsaid6807 Жыл бұрын
I skin mine and bury mine ...and cover it. Never had one walk off