[Jewelry making - Article 01195] - Re: [Orchid] Pickle query/pricing

[Karen Goeller]

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Nikky,

>         I have found that the safety pickle ( warmed kind)  that I use
>     leaves the silver item with a white coating. I am sure that the
>     pickle that was used at evening class  brought the item up silver!
>     how should I expect the silver item to come out of the pickle
>     pot?? 

    The white "coating" you are seeing is a thin layer of fine (pure)
    silver that has been raised to the surface by the heating and
    pickling process. Repeatedly doing this is called "depletion
    guilding" and is the first step in reticulating silver.  If you use a
    brass brush to scrub off that white layer, you're essentially rubbing
    off the fine silver that has risen to the surface.  You can leave it,
    or scrub/polish it off -- totally up to you. 

    So.  You can view it as an indicator that your pickle is working,
    probably a little better than the pickle in your classroom (which is
    likely more "used" than your nice fresh batch at home). 

    P.S. - When you run out of safety pickle, try buying good old PH
    Minus (pool and spa chemical) or food-grade citric acid.  Both work
    at least as well, are safer, and are significantly cheaper! 

Karen Goeller
kgoeller AT nolimitations.com 

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