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Euro mounts

KnuckleDragr

KnuckleDragr

Active Member
Questions for those of you that have done your own Euros..

1. How long do you typically boil?
The last one I did I think it got too hot as the antler bases began to
turn dark and take on a burnt appearance.

2. How do you bleach the top of the skull without submerging the antler
bases in the peroxide solution?
I know to wrap in foil, but I worry that the solution will get under the
foil and discolor the bases. I have tried keeping a saturated rag on top
but you can tell the difference in color.

I have yet to do a Euro that I am completely happy with so any help from the pros will be a step in the right direction. Thanks
 
I'm by no means a pro just to get that straight from the get go. I did my bow buck from 2010 and couldn't be happier with how it turned out. First off, don't boil it, SIMMER it. Boiling can be a little harsh on it. I would simmer for a half hour or so then clean. Did that quite a few times until I was happy with it then I actually took it to the car wash and blew the rest of the junk out of it that I couldn't get with pliers. I did add some borax to my simmering water to cut the grease off the skull. For the whitening portion, I went to a sally salon supply store and bought 40 volume creme and quick white powder. They are what you would use to bleach your hair, I just got them in the "bulk" containers. I mixed the two according to the directions and smeared the paste all over the skull. With it being a paste it was nice that I didn't have to worry about it getting on the antlers. After it was all over the skull, I wrapped the entire skull in saran wrap and held it (rotating every couple of minutes) in front of a space heater for a half hour or so and set it on my pellet stove where it was warm for a couple more hours. The heat activates the bleach. Don't put it so close to the space heater that you burn the plastic wrap. When I took the plastic off, it was hot enough that steam was coming off the skull. Wash the paste off and walla! Clean white skull!
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If you have access to a pressure washer (preferably a heated one), then you can cut down your time by 4 or 5 times.

Boil for 30 minutes or so, pressure wash as much as you can get. Boil again, repeat.

We've actually completed euros in 30-40 minutes before using this method and it works crazy good. Just make sure you are careful around the nose pieces as they can get somewhat flimsy when they are hot.

Use 40 volume peroxide on the finished product and let bake in the sun and you are done. :way:
 
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