I've got a box in the garage of racks collected over the years. Most I just sawed off the skull and never bothered to take the hide off. Now it is dried on to the point I think a chisel and dynamite might be needed. Does anybody have a good method to soften it up to make removal easier?

Jeff

Boil it. Out side of course. Use a metal bucket or tub and heat it on a burner like the ones used for turkey fryers. My taxidermist cooks skulls like this all the time. he doesn't actually boil it but soaks it in the the water with the heat up to the point just before boiling. After a couple hours it should soften up.

Kino is right. You might even get away with just soaking it overnight in a bucket of warm water if you dont have the means to boil it.

Regards, Wyo

Be sure and use a stainless pot or you'll discolor the bone. Add a good dose of detergent. Just curious, but why do you want the hair off? If you're fixing to put them up, I sure think they look better with the hair on.

The hide is all dried up and curling. I want to strip it to the bone and mount them on a plaque and then cover with a little plaster and some leather.

Thanks,

Jeff