Maceration Step by Step

[stitcherman]

15  days in the rot bucket with a aquarium heater that goes  to 90 degrees.
 I pulled out two skulls and they got more rotting to do.
 Cleaned off what wanted to come off and back in the bag and bucket.
 I feel the need for speed. 

[Wolfwoman]

There is no speed with maceration I put 16 skulls in the bin on 4/30 - I'll go out and check them today, make suer there's enough water in there, fill up the bags, but I won't mess with them much for at least another 2 weeks.

[stitcherman]

And I guess the aquarium heaters do the trick, It is keepin the buckets nice and warm to the touch.
 I been puttin a small rock in each bag . Keeps em from floating and gets rid of the maggots.
Thanks wolfwoman

[Sea Wolf]

   The yellowy color might also be grease. If you like it that way, set it in the sun for a few days and see if just drying it will help.

[Sad King Billy]

Umm, well, leaving it in the sun to dry for a few weeks did nothing for the smell, so i guess no : /
How often should I expect to change the water while it's degreasing? I tend to get home once every two weeks(not that my family hates me, I just happen to be in the army), so if i can't leave it for 11 days straight, I'll need to ask somebody to do it. Or maybe take the skull with me when I leave... Dunno. Will see...

By the way, I checked up on the macerating skull today and discovered that aside from it being farly clean of all but a few pieces of stubborn skin here and there, it also was ready to part with the beak(turtles... Whatever it is that covers their jaws. Looks like a beak to me). I'm fairly sure there was no beak on the first one... Wonder where it went.
Anyway, I think I'll glue it back on the jaws once I'm done cleaning the skull. Is there anything special I should do with the beak in the meanwhile? I put it in a damp box so it wouldn't dry up shaped wrong- it's a little flexible right now- and poured some alcohol on for the germs. Couldn't think of anything else...

[stitcherman]

I feel the "need for speed" also.
 Lay back, roll with it.

[dasmoofler]

I just want to extend my thanks to Wolfwoman. I had a friend drop off a Pronghorn head that he wanted for a European mount. I was apprehensive at first, but following your instructions it turned out great. His brother in law sent his to a professional that boiled it. Well, you know who's turned out better.

I now have a coyote skull that's almost ready for degreasing and a raccoon still stewing that I will attempt a full body articulation.

My friends now think I'm really weird but at the same time they are impressed with the results!

Thank you, Wolfwoman. And BTW, FWIW, I used to be a member of this forum many many years ago. I just got away for some reason.

[Wolfwoman]

Very awesome   I would love to see pics when you're done.

This may be one of the reasons I have very few friend

Why did you leave?

[Sea Wolf]

   Billy, save the "beak" till you are done and glue it on. It is made of the same material as the turtles scales. It will fit and dry nicely. Some things take several weeks to degrease properly, so leaving it in a detergent solution for two weeks or more will not hurt it.

    As for the smell, degrease it and use the peroxide soak. It will whiten it, but if you want it more brownish later after you get rid of the smell, soak it in some strong coffee or tea for a while to darken the color.

[dasmoofler]

Very awesome   I would love to see pics when you're done.

This may be one of the reasons I have very few friend

Why did you leave?

I suppose I left because I realized I am not the artist that one needs to be to do perfect mounts. I am an engineer, not an artist. I know when I'm whipped!

Anyway, I, for all practical purposes, am new to this forum, so I will have to learn how to post pics.

Also, I posted my progress on a board that I do frequent. My posts were not received as welcome as they may have been here as it is a car forum. But if you're interested here is the link: http://www.lotustalk.com/forums/f68/lookee-what-i-got-taxidermy-related-not-squeamish-64884/

Hope you like it!

[Wolfwoman]

Great post   I love some of the remarks by the more 'squeamish' members. They'd probably puke at this post of mine!! lol

[dasmoofler]

Yep, I know. Some get it, most don't. Different crowd I guess.

[Sad King Billy]

SeaWolf- thankies, will do...
dasmoofler- don't be sad... If i were to tell the people i live around why i'm taking these long walks to the beach, they'd probably stop talking to me... And since some of them happen to be my direct command(army... Don't go there unless you have a good reason. I don't), they'd also order me to stop. People are so funny... I mean, dammit, you eat dead flesh and it's okay, but then i decide to make a different use of it, and suddenly it's disgusting @_@(i'm a vegeterian myself... And i end up hunting for dead things. People are weird : )
Heh, i'll never forget it when an officer happened to peek inside my bag and found knives, saws, rubber gloves, ropes, a white sheet and a bottle of alcohol. Don't ask me how, but he decided it's for suicide @_@

[Sea Wolf]

  Dasmoofler, interesting post on the Lotus thread. I'm sure that a lot of your buddies there will NOT like it over here. I loved the Ewe eww reply

   King Billy, never would have thought of the vegetarian angle. Kudos to you for trying to make use of something going to waste though.

[dasmoofler]

Yeah, you're right Sea Wolf.
Sorry, but I have been diverted from my duties. I hope to give some pics soon.
John