Pickle goes directly in the pot. The heating element is in the
outside container, and this transfers heat to the inside "liner"
which then holds the pickle. Here in the US they are available very
inexpensively (under $20 easy) for small simple ones at any "big box"
store (think Wal-Mart, K-Mart, Target) or any cooking
supply/household goods store. If for some reason they aren’t
available where you live (and they may be called slow cookers or
crock pots) you shouldn’t have any trouble ordering from the
internet.
The size you need depends on the size of items you will need to
pickle, obviously Mine is fairly small with only an on/off
setting. The lid must be pretty good because I have very little
trouble with evaporation (on the other hand my studio stays fairly
humid, so maybe that is it). I have larger/fancier ones with
multiple settings that I actually cook in, but have never needed that
level of sophistication (if you can use such a term for a crock pot!)
in the studio.
I use sodium bisulphate on the recommendation of many people on
Orchid. When it runs out I probably will try citric acid and see how
it compares. By all accounts it is as good as sodium bisulphate at
removing the oxides and flux residues, although neither removes
firescale but I abraid that away anyway so that’s not a problem.
Any Crock Pot/Slow Cooker will do, but ones that are ceramic with a
glaze will slowly be eaten away by the acid. This usually takes
years. If you look around and get one that has a pyrex or other glass
type insert, you do not have to worry about the acid eating away the
glaze and only dripping acid on the outer part, which will slowly eat
that away or rust it. It is really nice to get the ones with a 'Warm’
setting as this is the best temperature for using the pickle.
I have found that caps for liquid detergent make wonderful ‘pickle
baskets’… using a jeweler’s saw, cut off the heavy plastic ring
(toward the screw part) so that it’s flush all the way around. Then
drill holes in the bottom and sides and you’re done! You can use
different caps – say smaller ones from liquid fabric softener –
especially for pickling of shot. Just drill holes smaller than the
shot you’re pickling and it won’t fall out of your basket.
I don't know what's in my pickle - it's sold as "safety pickle" (I
buy it in Birmingham's jewellery quarter) and as it comes with no
other info except on how to make it up
Sophie, I think you should ask your supplier for safety information
on this.
In the U.S., suppliers are required to give out a MSDS (Material
Safety Data Sheet) if asked for it by the consumer. They do not
automatically give them out, because they figure that often people
are buying something that they already know all about, know the
listed hazards, and have a MSDS already on file. We are required to
have a file of these sheets if we have employees working with or
near the materials, and to show them the and either post
it or have it available in a file for them to use at any time.
Perhaps there is safety data available from your supplier about which
you are not aware. Since you are buying in the jewellery district, it
seems likely that most customers there are already well versed in the
use of the products, so the seller does not need to inform them every
time they resupply. I would not be surprised if your country had
similar safety available to what we can get here in the
U.S.
WOW! Thanks a million, Rick. What a tour I had this morning! I am
amazed at the polish I see on the free forms. Those tumblers are
great - would never know something as beautiful could come out -
referring to the side-by-side tumblers!
WOW! Thanks a million, Rick. What a tour I had this morning! I am
amazed at the polish I see on the free forms. Those tumblers are
great - would never know something as beautiful could come out -
referring to the side-by-side tumblers!
Your welcome Rose Marie. The only thing I left out is my new
addition to my shop. A laundry sink with hot and cold running water
that drains out into my backyard. That way I can wash out my tumblers
without worrying about clogging the pipes and living in Colorado any
extra water is good for the lawn. (Note: Never wash out rock tumblers
in your sink. The stuff sets up like concrete in your pipes which
will lead to a long and expensive relationship with your local
plumber).
I just have to be careful not to wash anything that will tox my dogs
or kill the grass. I’m mostly concerned about the dogs. The dogs are
benefiting from the sink addition. I can hook up a garden hose to the
sink and they get warm baths instead of cold water right out of the
hose spigot.
Rick Copeland
Silversmith and Lapidary Artisan
Rocky Mountain Wonders
Colorado Springs, Colorado rockymountainwonders.com
Mine is fairly small with only an on/off