Dear Heads

User00022

Well-Known Member
Hi All,
Firstly I am new on this site as of about 2 months ago, have read through lots of posts and found it very useful and interesting.
So finally found something that others may find useful seen as I have learnt so much.
Basically I have started boiling out my own Roe Buck heads as keeping them was becoming a little hard, so i started with the usual boiling water, i actually used a old catering urn that my mother "seems" not to use anymore. :evil: :evil:
After i had taken the skin, ears etc and as much underlying flesh as possible, i tried to work out how to get them totally spotless of flesh as i can imagine they will smell if you leave the tinyest little bit of sinu on.
I tried a scrubbing brush, toothbrush etc but was not getting far, so eventually with a young roe head that i was willing to take the risk with I turned to the garden power washer and within about 5 minutes it turned it spotless inside and out with no damage at all, "I will not sign a disclaimer on this". I did 4 yesterday afternoon and they all worked really well, just learnt the slightly older 1s need a little longer boiling.
The only downside you do have a few bits of flesh flying about, :D :D but for its reduced hassle in my case sweeping up afterwards was much easier.
Not sure this will be of any use and it may not be for some, just thought i would post and see what people think.
Thanks
Alex
 
might try that idea. i think the dogs will like hoovering up the left overs off the patio. Better do it when the wife is out though :)
Jonathon
 
I did my first head 5 weeks ago, I was told to use a power washer, it works fine, but what you need to do is make sure you keep your mouth closed, wear goggles and full PPE, I was getting bits of brain backwashed onto me, (looks like puss) :cry: also, it doesn't smell the greatest....I can still smell it now thinking about it. :confused:
 
Put mine in the nettle patch near where lots of flies hang out hopefully it will be picked clean by natures little wonders in a week or two :lol:
No bits of braisn from the power washer for me TJ ...lol lots
BTW Malc has described this in a previous thread using caustic soda to do the final clean up process
 
Gents I can definitely guarantee the caustic soda after seeing it on the site postings, I put loads salt in as well boiled up a treat. my trophy's a muntjac and roe buck came out more gleaming than a Hollywood porn stars teeth.
Trapper
 
As I've said in another thread, the important points are to get the bone as clean as possible of flesh, skin etc before you apply the bleaching agent - be prepared to spend a bit of time on this if necessary. Letting nature dothe work is effective but you end up with a stained skull. Once the bone has been allowed to dry out you never seem to get effective bleaching.

Must admit that I haven't tried the power washer approach, but it does sound effective. It's certainly important to clean out the brain & nasal cartilage. Might try it sometime when Mrs Mole is out ..........
 
Do the antlers go into the caustic as well??
How clean do you like the antlers to be, spotless or with a little natural dirt on them??
basil.
 
No basil, :eek: keep the antlers well clear of the caustic soda as this will bleach them too.
Suspend the skull in the soda just under the coronets. I usually tie a piece of string to the antlers and suspend the hole lot from a stick bridging across the tub you are bleaching it in. ;)

wadas
 
nielaj said:
Hi All,
Firstly I am new on this site as of about 2 months ago, have read through lots of posts and found it very useful and interesting.
So finally found something that others may find useful seen as I have learnt so much.
Basically I have started boiling out my own Roe Buck heads as keeping them was becoming a little hard, so i started with the usual boiling water, i actually used a old catering urn that my mother "seems" not to use anymore. :evil: :evil:
After i had taken the skin, ears etc and as much underlying flesh as possible, i tried to work out how to get them totally spotless of flesh as i can imagine they will smell if you leave the tinyest little bit of sinu on.
I tried a scrubbing brush, toothbrush etc but was not getting far, so eventually with a young roe head that i was willing to take the risk with I turned to the garden power washer and within about 5 minutes it turned it spotless inside and out with no damage at all, "I will not sign a disclaimer on this". I did 4 yesterday afternoon and they all worked really well, just learnt the slightly older 1s need a little longer boiling.
The only downside you do have a few bits of flesh flying about, :D :D but for its reduced hassle in my case sweeping up afterwards was much easier.
Not sure this will be of any use and it may not be for some, just thought i would post and see what people think.
Thanks
Alex
i have been power washing heads for 15 years now in a beer barrel cut off near the top ,i can get 3 sika heads into it about 50 mins is enough tape up the nose bone as it can over cook and fall apart when washing ,o and take the jaw off before cooking ,then strain and add veg and a few glasses of red , nice with cruste bread ,mmmmmmmmmmm
 
The power washer do's work well. Like other have said take care not to blow of the nose bone with to much pressure. I boil and then scrape of as much meat as i can with a blunt knife. The dogs love all the debris out of the boiling pan. I bleach mine with peroxide 30%. Don't use household bleach, Hypochlorite. They look OK to start with but go off white quickly. These days most heads get thrown in to the dog kennel.
i end up with a nice short head cut/ chew.
 
tartinjock said:
I did my first head 5 weeks ago, I was told to use a power washer, it works fine, but what you need to do is make sure you keep your mouth closed, wear goggles and full PPE, I was getting bits of brain backwashed onto me, (looks like puss) :cry: also, it doesn't smell the greatest....I can still smell it now thinking about it. :confused:

Ditto!

Just prepared my first head and thought I'd try this pressure washer trick. I'd left it a few days and the head was a bit fruity to say the least.

Anyway, it worked a treat and just as I was remarking upon the white froth that was coming out of the cranium I got a powerful jet of putrefying brain right in the face! :eek:

I've not felt so repulsed since I strimmed a cat pooh! :lol:
 
I don't like to use washing soda as i like my dogs to get the water and bits in there meal but what i will say is take the skull out the water when only half boiled and place a screwdriver in the brain cavity and give it a good old stir up and then but it back in to finish the Brain will just wash out in to the pot. ;)
 
NOOOOOOOOOOOO NOT CAUSTIC SODA !!!! I SAID SODA CRYSTALS AS IN WASHING SODA :rolleyes:

Washing Soda, this releases the grease whilst you are boiling them, and change the water as well otherwise you are boiling and cleaning in greasy water. Then use the power washer works a treat, finally bleach in clean cold water with bleach added, dont out the antlers in, if you do its a matter of recolouring with premangenate of Potash crystals.
 
Like sikamalc said no caustic soda i dont know who said it but that will ruin your trophy.

ANTLERSTHEBIGBOY.jpg
 
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