[Jewelry making - Article 00010] - Re: [Orchid] Platinum coated diamonds

[Paul Jelley]

========[ Invite a Friend - http://www.ganoksin.com/invite.htm  ]========

    I've not used hydrofluoric acid to clean diamonds, however I
    regularly use an alternative for general glass etching. This is
    ammonium bifluoride crystals, which are considerably safer to
    handle, dissolved in water to make a strong solution, to which I
    then add strong (say 20%) sulphuric acid. I use a plastic container
    for the mix. 

    To a certain extent the sulphuric acid is optional, since the
    ammonium bifluoride alone dissociates in water to give ammonium
    fluoride and hydrofluoric acid. 

    The resulting solution will contain enough hydrofluoric acid to
    satisfy most glass / glaze etching as well as some metal pickling
    requirements, and without the need to cope with the dangers of a
    bottle of 70% hydrofluoric acid on the premises. 

    It is also considerably safer to transport, store and dispense the
    solid ammonium bifluoride than liquid hydrofluoric acid solution.

Paul Jelley
London UK
http://jelf0.blogspot.com
____________________________________________________________________
T h e   O r c h i d   L i s t
Open Electronic Forum for Jewelry Manufacturing Methods and Procedures
____________________________________________________________________
Orchid FAQ:
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/orchid/faq.htm
Orchid Archives:
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/orchid/archive
Orchid Galleries:
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/orchid/gallery.htm
Invite a Friend:
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/invite.htm
____________________________________________________________________
Tips From The Jeweler's Bench - Article Archive
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/borisat/tip_sear.htm
The Jeweler's Selected Bibliography List
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/jewelry-books
Buy Orchid Jewelry:
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/shop
____________________________________________________________________
-Unsubscribe:
-Email: orchid-request AT ganoksin.com Body=unsubscribe subject=blank
____________________________________________________________________