neat skull mount tip/question

[youngbuck]

Hey all just thought i'd post a piece of advice i learned from somone last year as well, as a question.
Advice first...
So for doing a European skull mount - full top half of the skull.
Step 1 skin out the head as best as possible..
#2 cut the flesh between the top and bottom jaw and work it untill they are separate.
#3 and heres where the piece of advice comes in.
Pressure wash it! I know not everyone has access to a high power washer, but if you can it does an absolutely amazing job to a skull. Sure its pretty messy at first cleaning out the brain and what not, and takes a bit of time, but it does get it way cleaner than any other method of tried.

Here's my question.
For those that have mounted the full top portion of the skull, how do you secure it to a board or plaque of some kind... I could just slap it on roughly with a screw or two, but it is hard to secure it with the teeth and skull shape. Has anyone found a better way to stabilize it on a plaque?
thanks,
Gerard

[trevorpt]

another trick to get the brains out is to boil the skull and blow them out with a compressor

[Schobs]

I'm not sure of the exact process, but what I've seen alot of guys do is make a hole in the bottom of the skull big enough for a small piece of wood. They secure the wood to the skull w/ bondo or something similar, then paint the piece of wood white so it doesnt stick out. Then you can screw the piece of wood to the plaque. If you need some more help pm me and I could suggest another site to check out. Not sure if I could post it here w/o violating forum rules.

[7VALLEYS]

What do you guys all do to whiten the skull once cleaned??????

[Big Z]

7V, the skull has to be PERFECTLY clean. Then, you can brush on some volume 40 peroxide (I think you can get that at hair salons--used for bleaching hair). Or, you can soak your skull in regular ole 3% hydrogen peroxide. The 3% takes longer, but hey, can you argue with the results?

[mnnden]

Nice Work!! Den

[RenaissanceBiker]

Originally Posted by 7VALLEYS

What do you guys all do to whiten the skull once cleaned??????

I used the 3% peroxide from the drug store. I bought 4 large bottles and poured them straight in my bathroom sink. I wrapped the lower antlers in plastic wrap and secured it with some wire. I used a soup ladle to keep pouring it over the part of the skull not submerged. What do you think?


I too am thinking about how to secure it. I think I am going to put two screws in and also try to tie it on with a hidden wire just to be sure.

[Big Z]

RB, you can cut or drill into the spot where the spinal cord enters. A tilted plaque with a small dowel that goes into the brain cavity will work and look great.

[125py]

good ideas

[BuckAlley]

I know others that have pressure washed their skulss, and it broke out fragile skull sections like some of the cartilage. Like the area below the eye sockets.