The Accurate Reloading Forums
Who has a bug box for skull clleaning?
07 September 2011, 23:26
loud-n-boomerWho has a bug box for skull clleaning?
I am leaving tomorrow for a back-country bear hunt and if I am successful will want to have the skull cleaned. Any suggestions on who to send the skull to.
One morning I shot an elephant in my pajamas. How he got into my pajamas I'll never know. - Groucho Marx
08 September 2011, 01:51
GraftonIf you want it bug cleaned, Skulls Unlimited would be one.
08 September 2011, 05:43
T manI tie up skulls and put them in the pond, the crawdads and perch do a good job.
I didn't go up there to die, I went up there to live.
08 September 2011, 07:16
L. David KeithI can recommend Larry Rivera in Idaho: Busy Beetle skull cleaning: Kamiah, ID 83536 ยท 208-935-2871. You can find him on Facebook:
Busy Beetle Skull Cleaning Service Check out his quality.
Gray Ghost Hunting Safaris
http://grayghostsafaris.com Phone: 615-860-4333
Email: hunts@grayghostsafaris.com
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Took the wife the Eastern Cape for her first hunt:
http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/6881000262Hunting in the Stormberg, Winterberg and Hankey Mountains of the Eastern Cape 2018
http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/4801073142Hunting the Eastern Cape, RSA May 22nd - June 15th 2007
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http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/6341092311 Recent hunt in the Eastern Cape, August 2010: Pics added
http://forums.accuratereloadin...261039941#926103994110 days in the Stormberg Mountains
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http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/6001078232"Peace is that brief glorious moment in history when everybody stands around reloading" - Thomas Jefferson
Every morning the Zebra wakes up knowing it must outrun the fastest Lion if it wants to stay alive. Every morning the Lion wakes up knowing it must outrun the slowest Zebra or it will starve. It makes no difference if you are a Zebra or a Lion; when the Sun comes up in Africa, you must wake up running......
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08 September 2011, 12:15
mike7mm08quote:
Originally posted by Grafton:
If you want it bug cleaned, Skulls Unlimited would be one.
They do a great job but their prices have gotten a bit high. With not much searching you can find a lot of people way cheaper. I know a local guy that does them but does not accept shipments only drop offs and pick ups. He is half the price of skulls unlimited. Wisconsin is a bit far for you.
10 September 2011, 03:33
TMTAXIDERMYClean it yourself. Just put the whole skull, meat and all, in a 5 gallon bucket of plain water with the lid loosely put on. Put it somewhere dogs can't get to it. Varies with the temperature but couple weeks later dump the water (very smelly) watch for any loose teeth. Rinse with the garden hose. should be clean as a whistle. Colder temps will take longer and if its not clean enough just add more water and let it sit a few more weeks.
If you want it super white, you will need to degrease the skull and bleach it with peroxide.
10 September 2011, 03:50
bradheTry Ron at West Coast Taxidermy in San Bruno
13 September 2011, 06:04
oakmanHave in house-so to speak- beetles colony for over 13 yrs. Good luck hunting
13 September 2011, 19:32
Nortonquote:
Originally posted by TMTAXIDERMY:
Clean it yourself. Just put the whole skull, meat and all, in a 5 gallon bucket of plain water with the lid loosely put on. Put it somewhere dogs can't get to it. Varies with the temperature but couple weeks later dump the water (very smelly) watch for any loose teeth. Rinse with the garden hose. should be clean as a whistle. Colder temps will take longer and if its not clean enough just add more water and let it sit a few more weeks.
If you want it super white, you will need to degrease the skull and bleach it with peroxide.
Sounds too easy.....but you're a taxidermist so I can't imagine you'd say it if it weren't true, right?
What do you suggest for degreasing?
22 September 2011, 06:05
RSIMMONSI'm just a hobby taxidermist for my own stuff. There are commercial degeasers you can buy from the taxi-supply places. But since none of the pros responded and using the above method of cleaning off the meat, a couple of ounces of dawn soap mixed with 5 gallons of water for 12 hours of soaking a cleaned skull would probably do it. Probably need to stir the soapy water occasionally during the soak.
23 September 2011, 05:21
John B TaxidermySkulls Unlimited is your best, VERY BEST bet! They accept any legally acquired skulls sent to them. This is their website.
http://www.skullsunlimited.com/http://www.skullcleaning.com/http://www.skullsunlimited.com...imited-Intl-Inc..htmhttp://www.skullsunlimited.com...railer---3net-3D.htmhttp://www.skullsunlimited.com...s-with-Mike-Rowe.htmhttp://www.skullsunlimited.com...ale-Articulation.htmAs a professional Taxidermist, I don't mess with skull cleaning ... the last thing I need in my shop are flesh eating beetles! Using beetles is the best cleaning method for skulls and skeletons. Skulls Unlimited ... all they do is clean skulls and skeletons. They are Osteological specialists, and they have been around for a long, long time ... and they really know their business! Skulls come back clean, degreased, and bleached white. Perfect every time.
John.
Improving the Quality and Status of Taxidermy Since 1970.
29 September 2011, 09:48
TMTAXIDERMYquote:
Originally posted by Norton:
quote:
Originally posted by TMTAXIDERMY:
Clean it yourself. Just put the whole skull, meat and all, in a 5 gallon bucket of plain water with the lid loosely put on. Put it somewhere dogs can't get to it. Varies with the temperature but couple weeks later dump the water (very smelly) watch for any loose teeth. Rinse with the garden hose. should be clean as a whistle. Colder temps will take longer and if its not clean enough just add more water and let it sit a few more weeks.
If you want it super white, you will need to degrease the skull and bleach it with peroxide.
Sounds too easy.....but you're a taxidermist so I can't imagine you'd say it if it weren't true, right?
What do you suggest for degreasing?
sorry, haven't been on for awhile.
Bear skulls are very greasy. As mentioned, degrease with dawn dish detergent and water. Let soak, refresh when water gets nasty. I also degrease in ammonia water. Bear skulls can take several months to get all the grease out. Keep soaking till water doesn't get nasty after soaking for a week. I had 5 brown bears going together last year that took 9 moinths to degrease!!! there are ways to speed this process up but you need to be set up with water heaters and such. For most I would just say don't get in a hurry with bear skulls. Good luck.
If your not a do-it-yourselfer then just take it to your taxidermist and let him deal with the smell and aggravation, but it's not a complicated process.
08 October 2011, 04:31
bobby7321I've also used
http://www.westernskulls.com/took a while, but they did a good job.
08 October 2011, 05:03
dogcatSkulls Unlimited in Oklahoma City is the best.
11 October 2011, 05:33
Dr. Louquote:
Originally posted by bradhe:
Try Ron at West Coast Taxidermy in San Bruno
They definitely do great work, but there are many others that are just as good and do it for half the cost.
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29 November 2011, 09:50
georgeldKen Hansen at: bonesandbugs@ak.net
sell's 'em for your own operation.
Price is plumb reasonable IF you've got a place to
keep 'em and want to mess with it.
George
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