I’m out of pickle, but I remember reading that the 94.5% sodium
bisulfite granules used for swimming pools and such is basically the
same material. What proportions of granules and water can be used to
pickle sterling?
Janet
Janet,
It’s sodium bisulfate, not bisulfite.
Very different beasties.
I use 6 to 1 ratio. 6 parts water to 1 part granules.
Always add acid to water and wear eye protection.
Karen Christians
M E T A L W E R X
50 Guinan St.
Waltham, MA 02451
Ph. 781/891-3854 Fax 3857
http://www.metalwerx.com/
Jewelry/Metalarts School & Cooperative Studio
Janet
At any hardware store you can buy ‘PH Minus’ which is the same as
Sparex. In fact it is even more pure in that you do not get the
brown scum floating on top. Also the PH Minus is usually half or less
the cost. I use 3-4 heaping teaspoon fulls in about a quart of water.
If not strong enough just add more.
Karen Bahr
Karen’s Artworx
Hi,
Just a question, is sodium bisulfite the same as sodium bisulfate, I
am able to find the sodium bisulfite but not the sodium bisulfate. I
worked with H2NO3 Nitric Acid as pickle but after I began using Rios
"pickle" I wont never use Nitric acid again. Also I have read that
sparex is the same stuff. Is this true.
Thor Hedderich
The rio’s pickle is the best thing I have foiund till today.
Well all I have used for years 10% sulfuric acid in water (Always the
acid to the water and not water to acid) otherwise there will be an
explosion. I know one day my supply of sulfuric acid will run out and
I will go back to Sparex. I also have seen in the event of not having
either, that in South America 50% muriatic acid in H20. It helps to
put a brass piece of money in the pickle before daily use. Isn’t it
comical how necessity creates solutions?
Devin
is sodium bisulfite the same as sodium bisulfate, I am able to find the sodium bisulfite but not the sodium bisulfate. I worked with H2NO3 Nitric Acid as pickle but after I began using Rios "pickle" I wont never use Nitric acid again. Also I have read that sparex is the same stuff. Is this true.
It is Bisulfite
I sent something that went off by mistake this morning. The material
is the Bisulfate not the not the bisulfite. In the US this can be
found easily in areas where backyard swimming pools are not uncommon.
It can be found as “pH Down”. Read the container as a phosphoric acid
solution is sold for pH control in aquaculture systems and this might
have the same marketing name. The quantity used is about 300 grams
per liter of water. 1 kitchen measuring cup in 1 liter of water.
There is no real magic in the measurements – a little stronger is
probably better.
jesse
Just a plug for using PH Minus - I switched about a year ago from
Sparex, and have been SO happy - faster, cleaner - I really like the
stuff.
no relation, etc. just a happy user.
Ivy S. Fasko
Contemporary Handcrafted Jewelry
http://www.ivysfasko.com
Karen,
You’re right–it’s sodium bisulfate (not bisulfite). I never was any
good at chemistry!
Thanks.
Janet
When I was a beginning metals student many years ago, our instructor
told us an easy way to remember that it is sodium bisulfate and not
bisulfite.
The sodium bisulfATE, ATE all the tarnish." She was the same
instructor who told us to how remember to add acid to water, and not
the other way around. She had a sign posted in the studio, “Dump the
acid in the ocean.”
Alma
She was the same instructor who told us to how remember to add acid to water, and not the other way around. She had a sign posted in the studio, "Dump the acid in the ocean."
I learned a similar, but much cheesier, saying in Chemistry classes
that helped us to remember the same safety rule: “I think you oughter
add the acid to the water!”
It’d be less dialectically accurate, but you could spell it “otter”
and make a cute little sign…in your spare time 
Cheers,
Jessee Smith
www.silverspotstudio.com
Cincinnati, Ohio
"Dump the acid in the ocean." or "I think you oughter add the acid to the water!"
May his rest be long and placid
He poured the water in the acid
LOL jeranor! I just learned: AAA - Always Add Acid (obviously starting with water)!
Thanks for the tip about sodium bisulphATE as well! Those little memory tricks work well for me!
Other wise I ALWAYS… no, wait,… NEVER… (RIP Steve Martin!)
-Nanette