Post by Sasquatch on Dec 21, 2008 17:02:46 GMT -5
Skinning the head out is pretty easy, but it does take some time around the antler bases. I bought a pot just for things like this, and I simmered the head over the course of a day off. In between doing other things I would pull it up and poke around with a knife to loosen things up. Most of the meat falls off. I also had good luck loosening up the brains with a knife, then pouring water in the braincase and kind of washing the goo out. To dull the "Pot roast" smell, I took borax and filled the nasal cavity, the brain case, and sprinkled the exterior while the skull dried.
When I was done boiling, the toughest part was getting all the junk off the back of the skull. All those little crevices are filled with rubbery cartilage and tough meat. Fine picks and small needle-nose pliers helped here. To get all the little tiny pieces of residue
off the bigger surfaces, I used a dremel tool with the wire brush attachment, being careful around any delicate bones. I used simple windex to degrease the skull, and I used super glue to rienforce the delicate nasal bones, quickly wiping up any excess glue. Then, after I carefully masked the teeth and antlers, I simply painted the skull with several light coats of quality spray paint, followed by some spray enamel .
A watched pot never boils
Ready to paint
Finished Product
When I was done boiling, the toughest part was getting all the junk off the back of the skull. All those little crevices are filled with rubbery cartilage and tough meat. Fine picks and small needle-nose pliers helped here. To get all the little tiny pieces of residue
off the bigger surfaces, I used a dremel tool with the wire brush attachment, being careful around any delicate bones. I used simple windex to degrease the skull, and I used super glue to rienforce the delicate nasal bones, quickly wiping up any excess glue. Then, after I carefully masked the teeth and antlers, I simply painted the skull with several light coats of quality spray paint, followed by some spray enamel .
A watched pot never boils
Ready to paint
Finished Product
