1.) bluecat - 12/04/2017

Doing my first european mount. Typically you need a propane cooker, a large pot and a pressure washer. Didn't have a propane cooker, a large pot and my pressure washer doesn't start so I decided to improvise. I didn't want to boil the skull but keep it below boiling so as to not weaken the bone. By creating a little distance between the fire and the popcorn tin, I was able to keep it below boiling. Got most of the tissue off but I'll need to continue working on it. Then on to the whitening phase. Really worked well so far.

2.) Swamp Fox - 12/04/2017

I like the popcorn tin idea. Saves a cooking pot, if people are fussy about that, LOL ... Although I did have someone half-way sane and trustworthy tell me something I did in a cooking pot left a stench that never came out one time ... Not sure I believe it, but there it is.

What are you using for your fire pit? I need something like that that won't disintegrate after a couple of years.

3.) bluecat - 12/04/2017

The fire pit is very sophisticated. It is a rusted and broken iron grill (like a hibachi) that someone left on the property when we moved in. The grate was something I found and cut so I could lay it across the grill. Couple of cinder blocks and some bricks to get the popcorn tin up. I originally had two cinder blocks per side, but the water wasn't heating so I dropped the distance slightly.

I've heard those stories on the pots and didn't want to ruin a nice stainless steel stock pot. I read where someone had used a popcorn tin so I had one of those saved back and it came in handy. I bet I can get multiple uses out it before it is retired to the metal recycler.

This is all new to me but so far so good.

4.) bluecat - 12/04/2017

I wrapped the antler bases with shrink wrap and then used electrical tape for insurance.

5.) bluecat - 12/04/2017

Being Christmas, look in your local recycle dumpsters for popcorn tins. I bet you'll find enough to last for awhile. I plan on doing that myself.

6.) Swamp Fox - 12/04/2017

I was wondering if that was an old hibachi or something like it. Surprisingly, the old roasting pans and $10 Weber grills I've been using seem inferior ... LOL


There used to be some threads about DIY Euro mounts on this site. Not sure if they survived the last wipe, though. OKY and Bullz-i were the experts. (At least the ones I remember.)


I wonder if water treatment vs. beetles is a big debate out there in the world. We need something to fight about around here. :wink

7.) bluecat - 12/04/2017

I think I might have even been in those threads last year as my friend was inquiring on how to do a european mount.

Here is some quality information if you are interested.

8.) bluecat - 12/04/2017

[QUOTE=Swamp Fox;53474]I was wondering if that was an old hibachi or something like it. Surprisingly, the old roasting pans and $10 Weber grills I've been using seem inferior ... LOL


There used to be some threads about DIY Euro mounts on this site. Not sure if they survived the last wipe, though. OKY and Bullz-i were the experts. (At least the ones I remember.)


I wonder if water treatment vs. beetles is a big debate out there in the world. We need something to fight about around here. :wink[/QUOTE]

Really, you wouldn't even need a hibachi. Dig a depression, start a fire, put cinder blocks or bricks across depression and put some sort of grating system (refrigerator tray) to suspend your popcorn tin. Viola!

9.) bluecat - 12/04/2017

An updated video since the previous.

10.) Bob Peck - 12/04/2017

[QUOTE=bluecat;53475] Here is some quality information if you are interested.[/QUOTE]
Excellent video! Thanks for sharing.

11.) Swamp Fox - 12/04/2017

[QUOTE=bluecat;53476]Really, you wouldn't even need a hibachi. Dig a depression, start a fire, put cinder blocks or bricks across depression and put some sort of grating system (refrigerator tray) to suspend your popcorn tin. Viola![/QUOTE]

I have roots everywhere, it seems like, but I have thought about it. Always wanted to do a below-ground covered cooking pit somewhere, but these are as far as I've gotten. If you have the right kind of soil and learn to dig them properly, they're awesome for cooking fires:

Big Pit, Short Video



Long Video, Small Pit

12.) Swamp Fox - 12/04/2017

Also, good to see that tip about the Min-Wax. I was thinking about what to use on some antlers of mine that got splotches from having some liquid laundry detergent soak on them for a while without me knowing it. Some type of stain like that was what I was thinking, but it's good to see the exact recommendation.

13.) bluecat - 12/04/2017

Speaking of fire pits, I would love to cook a pig in a pit, cover and let it go all night.

14.) Swamp Fox - 12/05/2017

That's my ambition, too. I have to graduate from clams and oysters to a chicken first, though. There's a proper progression involved here, you know.


[url]https://www.artofmanliness.com/2016/06/28/how-to-cook-a-pig-in-the-ground-hawaiian-style/[/url]

15.) bluecat - 12/05/2017

It's a 12 step program.

16.) Swamp Fox - 12/05/2017

I'm tempted to skip stuff that fits in my little cooker, though, and do something like a ham or turkey. Some type of lamb would be cool.

17.) bluecat - 12/05/2017

Maybe a big 'ol rack of spam.

18.) Swamp Fox - 12/05/2017

After thinking some more about my hard-packed clay and all the roots, my pioneer spirit has evaporated. Prolly the only way a below-ground pit is getting built is if I get some new, better friends and supply substantial alcohol. Even then the chances are slim, LOL.

Anybody ever used the Mountain Mike's kit where you use some epoxy putty to put a skull cap on a Euro form? It's a bit of work, but I don't know of any other options that appeal to me ...


[url]http://www.cabelas.com/product/Mountain-Mikes-Record-Keeper-Kit/744297.uts?productVariantId=1400872&WT.tsrc=PPC&WT.mc_id=GoogleProductAds&WT.z_mc_id1=02843604&rid=20&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIgcnUk67z1wIVnoKzCh2z0gWbEAQYAiABEgJVevD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds[/url]


Unless I just do something like this:


[url]https://www.academy.com/shop/pdp/do-all-outdoors-iron-buck-antler-mount[/url]


Easy peasy, and decent-looking, but not very original.

19.) bluecat - 12/05/2017

[QUOTE=Swamp Fox;53486]After thinking some more about my hard-packed clay and all the roots, my pioneer spirit has evaporated. Prolly the only way a below-ground pit is getting built is if I get some new, better friends and supply substantial alcohol. Even then the chances are slim, LOL.

Anybody ever used the Mountain Mike's kit where you use some epoxy putty to put a skull cap on a Euro form? It's a bit of work, but I don't know of any other options that appeal to me ...


[url]http://www.cabelas.com/product/Mountain-Mikes-Record-Keeper-Kit/744297.uts?productVariantId=1400872&WT.tsrc=PPC&WT.mc_id=GoogleProductAds&WT.z_mc_id1=02843604&rid=20&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIgcnUk67z1wIVnoKzCh2z0gWbEAQYAiABEgJVevD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds[/url]


Unless I just do something like this:

[/QUOTE]

It looks like Mountain Mike is making a killing selling a few screws, epoxy and putty for 44.95.

20.) Swamp Fox - 12/05/2017

Well, there's the snout piece, but Yeah, I know what you mean ... :-)

Wish I'd thought of it, LOL.

21.) Swamp Fox - 12/05/2017

I still think lightning will strike and I'll come up with a good idea for a cap mount somehow, but I'm keeping Mountain Mike in my back pocket for a fake European. After so many years of this particular rack gathering dust, I'm about ready to admit defeat.

22.) bluecat - 12/05/2017

Don't let the bastards win Swampy.

23.) bluecat - 12/05/2017

Remember what grandma always used to tell us.

24.) Swamp Fox - 12/05/2017

[QUOTE=bluecat;53491]Remember what grandma always used to tell us.[/QUOTE]


[QUOTE]"I say that big talk's worth doodlysquat."[/QUOTE]

?



If that's not it, I have some others ...


:-)

25.) bluecat - 12/06/2017

Lol!

I'd forgotten about that one. I think that one earned you some extra chores.

I was remembering "Get your damn feet off the coffee table."

26.) bluecat - 12/27/2017

So...


I knew I needed to get some supplies to whiten the skull a bit. Called Sally Beauty Supply and talked with Dana. I was trying to find out if they had certain products and she asked what I was doing. I hesitantly told her I was trying to whiten a skull. She then proceeded to walk me through the entire process...LOL!




This is what you need.


Make a paste with the liquid and the granules.


Wipe on the paste and then cover with saran wrap.



Rinse off dried paste. Gave the antlers a little rub with olive oil. Wiped on a little Mop and Glow to skull to seal it and give it a little sheen. Done.

27.) bluecat - 12/27/2017

I was able to whiten the other skull I found in the woods. So there isn't necessarily a window of time you have in which to do it.

28.) bluecat - 12/27/2017

Total cost to do the skull was 13.00. Used wood for fuel, had a popcorn tin, Mop and Glow and palmolive dish soap. Cost of whitening supplies came to 13.00. One of the bottles of peroxide will last for many years.

29.) Swamp Fox - 12/27/2017

Nice. So this is to whiten beyond the peroxide? Is this the equivalent/counterpart to Bullz-i's step, which involves Killz as a whitener/brightener?

30.) bluecat - 12/27/2017

That was the peroxide. It is mixed with a paste. The skull was already fairly white as my last boil was with OxyClean. Just trying to make it as white as possible. White privilege you know.

31.) Swamp Fox - 12/27/2017

So did you also do a peroxide solution/soak/boil? I guess that's what I was getting at.



Bonus: Here's something to amaze your friends and thrill your neighbors:

Germans have a word for tramp stamps "Arschgeweih" -- Which literally means, "ass antlers."

— Fact (@faccccct) December 27, 2017

32.) bluecat - 12/27/2017

2 boils with palmolive dishwashing liquid
1 boil with oxyclean

peroxide treatment.

Also, boil doesn't mean rolling boil. It was basically very hot (steep). You don't want to boil the skull.

33.) bluecat - 12/27/2017

If I was to do it all over again, I would eliminate the second boil with palmolive.

34.) DParker - 12/27/2017

[QUOTE=bluecat;53951]If I was to do it all over again, I would eliminate the second boil with palmolive.[/QUOTE]

This makes Madge sad.

35.) bluecat - 12/27/2017

+3 "It's more than just mild."

36.) bluecat - 12/27/2017

[QUOTE=Swamp Fox;53948]



Bonus: Here's something to amaze your friends and thrill your neighbors:

Germans have a word for tramp stamps "Arschgeweih" -- Which literally means, "ass antlers."

— Fact (@faccccct) December 27, 2017

[/QUOTE]



Nice g2's?

37.) DParker - 12/27/2017

[QUOTE=bluecat;53954]

Nice g2's?[/QUOTE]

I was gonna' say, "Nice rack"....but that would get really confusing.

38.) Jon - 12/28/2017

That chick stole my underwear ^^^

39.) Jon - 12/28/2017

Euro mount looks great BC, did you lose any of the skull pieces while in the low boil? If so, some hot glue is your friend.
I've been told to avoid pressure washing the skull, it not only breaks it but it covers you in grey matter and you'll never get that stink off you.
I stopped messing with doing it myself, the last time I was de-fleshing a skull I cut my thumb to the bone using a utility knife with a fresh blade. it still hurts just talking about it.

40.) bluecat - 12/28/2017

Thanks Jon, It's probably a good thing that my pressure washer was broken. I just used a good ol' sprayer from a hose which helped but I'm with you, you're really taking a chance with the pressure washer. I was lucky and did not break anything on the skull. The other skull I did already had a missing piece but that's another story.

You're not the first person that had grey matter splash on them. Nasty.

41.) bluecat - 12/28/2017

[QUOTE=DParker;53955]I was gonna' say, "Nice rack"....but that would get really confusing.[/QUOTE]

It changes the whole meaning of 'mounting' as well.

42.) Swamp Fox - 12/28/2017

What about using one of those inexpensive light-duty electric/battery pressure washers to split the difference? I don't know how one compares to a hose on jet or whatever the strong stream setting is, but I'd think it's a boost.

43.) bluecat - 12/28/2017

As long as you keep it away from nasal passages you might be okay.

44.) Swamp Fox - 12/28/2017

Well, I'm keeping it away from MINE, that's for sure.