RE: best way to get hair off, for a clean skull mount
a gavanized #3 wash tub and a propane burner works well for this. I have done several european mounts this way. I use Borax soap in the same manner that trushot mentioned.
Main thing is dont boil it fast. Just a slow rolling boil. Before long, all of the excess meat and brain and stuff left over after you skin what you can will just disintegrate.