[Jewelry making - Article 00127] - Re: [Orchid] Peroxide & Vinegar

[marlin]

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    I too sometimes get a pink copper coat on some of the brass and
    silver I pickle. After reading Bill Seeley's short article on
    Hydrogen Peroxide Pickle several years ago, I began to keep a bottle
    of drug store peroxide (3% H2O2) near my bench. If I have a copper
    flash I need to pickle off, I just dump some peroxide into the
    pickle pot with the existing Sodium BiSulfate (NaHSO4, Sparex #2 tm
    type acid). It works like a charm and also replenishes the lost
    (evaporated) water. While I have other acids available, I rarely use
    them. Many are volatile like HCl (Hydrochloric or muriatic acid),
    HNO3 (Nitric acid), or Acetic acid (vinegar is around 5%). The
    resulting fumes, especially when heated, can be hazardous both to
    your health and to your tools, causing a lot of rust. Some safer
    acids like citric acid seem too weak. Others are just too hazardous
    like concentrated H2SO4 (Sulfuric acid) or volatile, hazardous and
    hugely dangerous like HF (Hydrofluoric Acid) and NaCN (Cyanide).
    Like I said I have these other acids and will occasionally use them,
    but only for a special case and with great care. I am very intrigued
    by the Reactive Metals Studio Multi-Etch product. Not only do they
    say it works on Titanium, but "It etches copper, brass, pewter, steel
    and will clean light fire scale from sterling." Like everything
    Reactive sells, I assume this has to be 'best in class' and work well
    or they would not sell it. It is however dangerous, if not especially
    hazardous. It contains NaF (Sodium Fluoride) and perhaps acid
    sulfate and nitrate salts. It has a very long shelf life when dry,
    but decomposes once mixed (at least 6 months life) and is available
    in minimum one gallon size, which must be mixed all at once. I sure
    wish it was available in in smaller units, like an 8 pack of 16oz
    packets so I would have less to store once mixed and less to dispose
    of. Do any of you have any experience using MultiEtch? 

Marlin in Denver on a great Autumn day.
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