Two weeks ago, I ran out of sodium bisulfate, and no time to order
it, made vinegar/salt pickle with some preoxide. Works very well, but
leaves a dark gray stain on sterling. Does well well with brass,
copper, nickel, but tends to discolor sterling. The ratio I was using
was 1/3 water in crockpot, 1/3 cheap white vinegar added to water,
and about 1/4 cup of Celtic gray salt (yes, it was pricy salt, but
all I had in my cupboard), and some preoxide to remove the copper
smut off nickel and brassā¦
Just in case anyone is curious about a more āgreenā pickle. For me,
itās emergency pickle, for Iām really a sodium bisulfate gal when it
comes to pickling. If you donāt mind your studio smelling vinegary,
then itās a win-win situation. Recipe came from a Polish-American
armor maker who got the recipe from an ancient Polish armor-maker in
Poland. I figured out the proportions by trial and error.
I have no idea if it will dissolve steel, but if you are game, try
it.
Joy