Amateur taxidermists out there?

[Bugs]

Anyone have a special concoction or method for boiling the meat/hide and other tissues off a deer skull. Plain boiling works but is time and labor intensive. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

 

[Flybuster]

My taxidermist says she uses high pressure water to blast the brains out of the skull, works pretty good. Before boiling. Also I have heard of these flesh eating beetles you can release on the skull. Dermestid beetles, you have to raise them in a colony. But whats cooler than having your own colony of flesh eating beetles? Here's a link that has pictures and explain's the whole disgusting process. http://www.skulltaxidermy.com/kits.html

 

[Rustystud]

Fly Maggots are natures way of cleanning up skills. I have seen 5 gallon plastic buckets cut out so the skull will will fit down inside. Then wholes cut so flies can get in. In a warm humid invirement the maggots will do your handy work in a few days. Your neighbors will love you. Then few minutes of boiling and then soaking it in hydrogen peroxide will get her done.
Rustystud

 

[tim58]

Having done a few of these i boil mine in baking soda and water till brain and tissue are disolved,i use a coleman camp stove out side so it dont stink up the house,wife didnt like it much, the first one i did) the baking soda leaves it clean and sorta white looking,, also when cool I use a shop air compressor to blow all the junk out of small places in the skull also out side TIM 58

 

[Preacher]

I strip off as much meat as I can then use 1/4 cup of Clorox, 1 tbs salt in a big container filled with water on the kitchen stove.
I wish I did enough to warrant keeping those beetles around, as they sure do a nice job.

 

[AndyW]

Been there done that boiling skulls.

Life is too short to mess with this, take it to someone with a bug box.