I do the exact same thing, except I put it under a cheap heat lamp from lowes in my garage.I do all mine and it just takes some time. After simmering, I pressure wash while still hot. Re Simmer and wash if needed. Then I brush on 40 Volume creme stabilizer from a hair salon by the quart. Sit in the sun and it will bleach it very white. I also use black tape around antler bases to help keep them naturally colored. Min Wax stain also will return to normal coloring.
The pressure washer must be the difference, I dont scrape much at all after the intial prep work and I do the same as you, or your not soaking them long enough or hot enough, thats always been the tough part for me knowing when to pull them out and start pressure washing.Do you freeze your heads first or do them right away? I've done about a dozen heads and none of them came off that easy. I skin them, cut off the bottom jaw, eyeballs, tongue and cut as much meat off as possible before I simmer them. I have to simmer them for about 2 hours on the first round. At 30 minutes you couldn't scrape the stuff off with a knife, let alone wash it off with a hose. I usually simmer two more times for about 1 hour each to finish them up and each round involves substantial scraping and picking to get everything off. I simmer them with Dawn and some Borax and keep the water just below a boil.
Same process for me plus pressure washing out and picking the nooksI do all mine and it just takes some time. After simmering, I pressure wash while still hot. Re Simmer and wash if needed. Then I brush on 40 Volume creme stabilizer from a hair salon by the quart. Sit in the sun and it will bleach it very white. I also use black tape around antler bases to help keep them naturally colored. Min Wax stain also will return to normal coloring.
Awesome mounts and RACKS
I hate you...I got some cedar trees off a job I was on, peeled them, pressure washed them, brush bleach all over them and let them sit, then I stained them with sikkens and put one up in my man cave to throw old racks and stuff up on before I knew how to boil them right, saves a lot of wall space and I didnt have to screw a bunch of holes all over, secret to peeling cedar is doing it from May to July it comes off easier, around here anyhow, and it cost nothing!View attachment 31877
I like to go ahead and get it done. I've never frozen one first.Do you freeze your heads first or do them right away? I've done about a dozen heads and none of them came off that easy. I skin them, cut off the bottom jaw, eyeballs, tongue and cut as much meat off as possible before I simmer them. I have to simmer them for about 2 hours on the first round. At 30 minutes you couldn't scrape the stuff off with a knife, let alone wash it off with a hose. I usually simmer two more times for about 1 hour each to finish them up and each round involves substantial scraping and picking to get everything off. I simmer them with Dawn and some Borax and keep the water just below a boil.
Problem with beetles is they gotta eat year round.Thus thread has made me contemplate starting dermestid beetle colony and doing Euros cheaper and better locally than the taxidermists here, who all do the boil and peroxide method. $75-100/head would add to the play $ for sure!
Exactly, I've been doing my homework on it and if I pull the trigger, I will put them in my storage building far from the house. I have to guage the potential volume of business and decide if it is worth the effort, but it is something I've considered several times in recent years, so may be fun to try it for a season and at least hook up my friends. Lots of roadkill around here, so lots of food to keep them going and grow the colony.I buddy of mine has just got the beetles. I haven't had him do a head for me yet, but I've seen some he's done for himself and some other buddies. He is doing a coyote skull for me that I shot in spring turkey this year. I hope to have it back soon. He said the worst part is they stink. He has them in a shed in the yard that he set up just for that. He said its definately not something you put in your garage or basement. Unless you like being single all the time. Wait, maybe I'm on to something here.