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[mr-lama]

I've started trying to bleach my first deer skull, and I'm having some troubles. I was trying to boil it, but never really could get into a boil. It did at first, and then I added the degreaser and skull, then it wouldn't boil again. What I think it was is the air was a little cold, and when it would start to look like it was boiling, a small breeze would kill it then it would just go back to being hot, never really got back up to a real boil. But I left it in for a half hour, thinking it would be enough, but it wasn't. Make the pieces of meat easier to cut but still couldn't get some of the stuff off.

So is possible to redo it? If I do it inside I'm sure I can get it boiling fine, only thing I'm worried about is overcooking the skull. What would you reccomend I do at this point?

[The Tanner]

It really needs to be a full boil for an hour to really breakdown all the matter so that it will release properly.  It takes a good heat source to boil that much water.

Your skull is fine.  Damage occurs when the skull is over boiled (boiled for several hours).  Since your water didn't reach a full boil you should be just fine.  Even if you stop at this stage until you find a better heat source you should be fine.  Just let the skull soak in a bucket of water to keep it hydrated.

When boiling indoors be prepared for the smells that occur.  You are boiling raw flesh.  There is a very distinct and potent smell.

Good Luck.

[mr-lama]

Well, I have found out that I have to do it outside, a certian woman told me that. 

I tried again today, did it a little different. Started it boiling inside, and then took the boiling pot out to the grill's burner. But, again, after a few minutes, it got down to a very low boil, and didn't do anything. I read that the antlers are just caps and are supposed to come off shortly after you start, they never even loosened up. How long does it normally take for them to come off?

I'm going to try and find a good burner to do it on. Something that gets a lot hotter than the one I have now.

Now I still have a couple of worries. One being if I overcooked it. It boiled for a few minutes, but not much. If, like you said, it takes a couple hours, I'm hoping I'll be fine. Also, both times I've tried this I've added the degreaser, I don't really know what that stuff does, but should I put more in next time or no?

Also, I lost my instruction booklet. How much hydrogen peroxide and bleacher do I use for a deer skull (if I can ever make it to that step)?

Thanks for the help.

[The Tanner]

The degreaser is a highly concentrated soap that breaks down the fats in the flesh and pulls the grease out of the bone.  Not getting the grease out of the bone is the number one reason for the skull to yellow over time.

Cows, Pronghorns, and Buffalo have caps while deer, elk, moose, and caribou do not. 

The caps usually release after 15-20 minutes of boiling if the skull is fully submerged.

If you are bleaching a deer skull use half of the powder in the kit.  Make a paste the consistency of ketchup by slowly adding hydrogen peroxide and stirring.  Then apply to the skull and let it set overnight.  Brush/wash off the powder residue and you are done.