acid (for pickling)

[steamboater]

Could anyone suggest a (local or post!) source of acid for pickling copper? Fruitless local trek and I ended up buying Vitamin C powder! which I have used before, but it works out very expensive and not as good as acid

[jasonb]

I have recently been using the dry acid crystals from Chronos, seem to do the job and they can be sent through the post.

www.chronos.ltd.uk/acatalog/Dry_Acid_Pickling_Salts.html

Jason

[weldsol]

Use to get my citric acid crystals from the local Pharmacy in 1/4 kilo packs
Also look in Boots chemist at the wine making as they used to use citric acid to sterilise the containers

Paul

[baggo]

One-shot drain cleaner from B&Q. It's 91% sulphuric acid. Make sure you get the right one though as they sell a caustic version as well.

John

[ron]

I bought battery acid from the local autoshop, but I think Baggo's suggestion probably works out cheaper.
Ron

[44767]

I use citric acid. I buy it at the supermarket from the baking section. About 3 or 4 150g containers to 20l of water is a very cheap and effective way. It is much safer and doesn't make every thing in your workshop go rusty.

[steamboater]

thanks for all the suggestions, I like tht last one, but due to visiting "health care" store paid over the odds (in my opinion) so that put me off the citric avenue (as a solution) but as long as it does the job.

[Workshopshed]

I picked up some pickle from CupAlloys at the show back in Jan, not tested it out yet though.

[durhambuilder]

I did use the drain cleaner in the past but it seemed to leave a black oily film behind, I now use citric acid, the last lot I bought was about £3 per kilo from my local home brew shop. half a bag made up about 20 litres of pickle.

[bookworm]

Are we being over cautious in the UK with our zelous Health and Safety regulations, or is it sensible.

I buy my sulphuric and hydrochloric acids from French Hypermarkets or DIY stores when I pop across the channel on hols. The French use hydrochloric acid for cleaning their toilets and drains and so is found almost everywhere.

Peter

[brozier]

That's what I use (drain cleaner) you can get some which is 98% Acid from B&Q.

They market it as OneShot drainer cleaner.

Google it for cheaper suppliers....

Cheers
Bryan

[pauldenney]

Brozier

How much do you water it down by?

Paul

[spamcanman]

Go to a good plumbers (not DIY stores) and ask for a bottle of 'one shot' there is nothing more powerful

[russell]

Paul,

Never add water to sulphuric acid. Always add the acid slowly to the water.

I use about 5% acid by volume although it is not critical. Weaker acid just takes a bit longer to act.

Russell.

[Tony K]

Mar 3, 2009 12:08:15 GMT durhambuilder said:

I did use the drain cleaner in the past but it seemed to leave a black oily film behind, I now use citric acid.

I have been using the 92% drain cleaner - it was not perfect for me either. I think it must depend on what the other 8% is and that varies with different drain cleaners.

I tried citric acid and had good results - slower but safe and easy to dispose of.

I tried to buy some citric locally and ran up against the "do-gooders" who say they are being responsible in only selling in 100g sachets. This, they say, is because druggies use it to pad out some of their substances. After explaining to the pimply-faced youth the folly of this policy and how the masses are always restricted in trying to correct the folly of the few, I consulted eBay. I bought a kilogram with no problem.

I nearly tried some of the dry acid salts, but it proved impossible to find out what it actually is.

Interesting that it is no problem to sell 92% sulphuric over the counter but citric (nearly harmless, since it is used in baking etc.) is restricted by some at least.

[steamboater]

Once again thanks for interesting and informative answers, yesterday I went on the offchance into the local 99p shop, thought there might be a drain cleaner. But I did find conmcentrated lemon juice! Two 500ml bottles for 99p. It worked, at least it has cleaned small parts overninght, Just wondering if I can dilute the solution??

[Tony K]

Mar 4, 2009 12:23:14 GMT steamboater said:

Just wondering if I can dilute the solution??

Dunno, give it a go. We discuss this subject fairly often, the last time Here.

[Tim Bayliss]

If you can find somebody in the water treatment business they usually use sulphuric acid as an additive. I have found that if you ask them for a gallon of some mild stuff like 2% they are happy to oblige and it works fine.
Tim

[Chris Kelland]

Citric acid is the way to go, it's safe and you can pour it down the sink when used. Does not burn holes in your clothes. I usually buy it 4 or 5 kilo's at a time and sell it at the club. This post has a link to the place I buy it from.


modeleng.proboards20.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=general&thread=1207&page=1




Chris.

[rodwilson]

Pour it down the sink hey? And where does drain cleaner go?