citric acid for pickling

[Dave Jones 1Participant @davejones1]

I have been reading around, and I have seen that citric acid can be used for pickling silver soldered parts.  Does anyone know what the recommended concentration is? the citric acid I have been looking at is 100% pure E330 citric acid (the same stuff used for home brewing).

[Dave Jones 1Participant @davejones1]

[Brian Baker 2Participant @brianbaker2]

Hi Dave, I have been using Citric acid as pickling solution for some time now, and it works as well as sulphuric acid, but avoids the burn holes in trousers & overalls.

I mix about a heaped table spoon in about 1 gallon of water, and add a little more as the solution ages with use.

Like all chemical processes, it works quicker if warmer, so putting parts in whilst warm speeds things up.

Citric Acid is quite safe to use, but should be washed off with copious ammounts of water if splashed in the eye, or other sensitive areas.   I know we can drink it, but it becomes a good poison with copper salts disolved in it!

The home brew shop is the cheapest source of supply, much better than the little pots that chemists sell.

regards

Brian

[Dave Jones 1Participant @davejones1]

Thanks, I will order some and give it a try. 

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