I have a deer skull with antlers that a fellow wants made into a nice European mount. The trouble is it sat in his freezer, he had a freezer thaw, then hung it outside during the winter. He has had it it storage for years and it looks like a mummified deer head. The dried hairless skin is tight to the skull, it has dried brain/nasal tissue, dried shriveled ears hanging on, etc.(you get the picture). I am looking for suggestions on the best way to rehydrate and clean it off. My current plan is to soak it in water for awhile, pressure wash it to knock loose what I can, soak it and mascerate what I can and if there's still tissue stuck,Sal Soda the skull. After all this I'll whiten with hydrogen peroxide. Does this sound reasonable or do you have better suggestions? Thanks a bunch! This forum has helped me greatly.
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To start with, then skin and bug. Switch out ammonia a few times and the skin will definitely rehydrate. I would never power wash anything as it will ruin the nasal bones, and no self respecting serious museum would ever use sal soda on a specimen. Use Dermestid beetle to clean the skull or maceration.
I would just soak/macerate and go from there. It may take a little longer, since it's so dry, but it should all come off.
stay away from the pressure washer...skulls and pressure washers are a bad combination. I've seen some pretty horrid results when the two are mixed! I think you will be amazed at your skull after maceration. It will take a little time, but the results will be well worth the wait.
after macerating it a few days, cut the skin around the antler burrs and get it off. I bet that there is not a lot left on the skull after you skin it. Hope this helps...
Thanks for the ideas. I started soaking it about 24 hours ago and the "mummy skin" is already softening up quite a bit. I think I'll forget about the pressure wash idea after your comments. I thought it would have helped loosen the dried stuff but it doesn't look like that will be necessary. I think I'll be able to skin off the old hide after a couple of days of soaking. THANKS!