I have always used sparex as a pickle but I would like to give alum a
try and I was wondering if anyone knows a really effective alum to
water ratio. Thanks very much. Sarah in Halifax, Nova Scotia
Alum works as a flux with LEAD solders, not with carat and silver
solders. Don’t try it. You’ll end up a very unhappy bunny!
Tony Konrath
Gold and Stone
www.goldandstone.com
tony@goldandstone.com
I have always used sparex as a pickle but I would like to give alum a try and I was wondering if anyone knows a really effective alum to water ratio. Thanks very much. Sarah in Halifax, Nova Scotia
G’day; this is one we often see. The ratio of water to pickle,
whether it is alum, sodium bisulphate, or citric acid, is not at all
important. The magic word is ‘enough’! All of the above require no
more than a handful in about a pint of water. Use it hot. In the
case of sulphuric acid, (which is what I use) a strength of 100 mls of
acid in 1000 mls of water (acid poured into the water with constant
stirring as it will get hot) gives an approximate strength of 10%
which is the usual but it could be 5% or 15% and it would work.
Why do I use sulphuric acid? Because I have plenty (I bought 5 litres
of the conc. acid 20 years ago) and it is the old fashioned,
effective pickle, so why should I bother to change? Cheers, –
John Burgess; @John_Burgess2 of Mapua Nelson NZ