I've had a pig skull in my box for about 6 weeks. I took it out today and looked at it and it looks like it's almost finished but the flesh left is like thin wood--very hard. Should I take it out, resoak it to soften it up, and put it back in, or just leave it alone. I only ask because of the recent articles on here I read about the meat needing to be like jerky. This is more like tough plastic. Also I know 6 weeks is too long. I have already taken steps to shorten the time it takes. Thanks in advance for the advice.
SD
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If the meat gets too dry even the beetles won't eat it anymore. You have two choices here.
Rehydrate the skull to the point of the meat being chewy again and put it back in your box, or just macerate the rest of it. Sounds like you don't have a lot of meat left on it.
Also sounds like you either have too small of a colony of beetles or they are not very hungry. Other factors could also play a role in the beetles not finishing the skull sooner.
I'd go with just soaking the skull for a week or so and then peeling the rest of the meat off of it.
Does maceration work even when the temp. is low outside?
SD
it takes longer. The warmer the weather the more active the bacteria are which eat away the meat. If it is very cold where you are at it helps to put an aquarium heater in with the water to keep it warm.
If you go to hidetanning.net, there is an article about skull cleaning using different methods. You might find it helpful.
SP