Bambistew
Well-known member
Agree with not putting anything on them. If they get dirty/dusty, just clean them up with soap and water and a soft brush. I've even re-simmered some that were close to 20 years old that had turned a bit yellow from grease, or grungy from dust, and re-peroxided them. The came out looking new. If you paint, you'd have to strip, and that stuff never fully comes off.
The last 4-5 years I've had great luck doing the following, submerge head in water for a few hours, bagging the head in a trash bag (as long as its warm out) and leaving it rot for about a week or so before a simmer in water/dawn/borax. Seems to clean up much faster (vs no bag), and the nasal bones clean up really easy. A few "head helpers" are a bonus. I also pressure wash the gunk off vs scraping, makes getting the cartilage off the bottom and back of the skull a breeze.
I've dropped off a number of them at the taxidermist for later mounting, and he was always impressed at how clean they are compared to his, and other skulls he got in.
The last 4-5 years I've had great luck doing the following, submerge head in water for a few hours, bagging the head in a trash bag (as long as its warm out) and leaving it rot for about a week or so before a simmer in water/dawn/borax. Seems to clean up much faster (vs no bag), and the nasal bones clean up really easy. A few "head helpers" are a bonus. I also pressure wash the gunk off vs scraping, makes getting the cartilage off the bottom and back of the skull a breeze.
I've dropped off a number of them at the taxidermist for later mounting, and he was always impressed at how clean they are compared to his, and other skulls he got in.