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The
traditional jewelers' pickle is a chemical
called sodium bisulphate. I was taught to
use a sodium bisulphate product called Sparex
in my jewelry work. Sodium bisulphate is
also packaged as a Ph balancing pool chemical.
Sodium bisulphate works well as a pickle,
but it's a byproduct of making hydrochloric
acid and is a hazardous chemical. It gives
off toxic fumes when mixed with water (even
if the water is not heated), and because
it's a highly corrosive chemical, it must
be carefully neutralized before disposing
of it. I never felt comfortable using sodium
bisulphate, but I didn't question it because
it's what my very first teacher showed me
and what everyone else I'd known in the business
used.
Up until the last couple of years, I routinely recommended sodium bisulphate as a pickle....but not anymore. I try to limit my exposure to toxic substances and I also don't want my personal activities to harm the environment. If there is a natural alternative to a toxic product, I want to use it. My search for a safe pickle led me to formulate Silver-Prep. It's an all natural pickle mix that I have blended especially for home jewelers and metal clay artists. Compared to sodium bisulphate, Silver-Prep actually works faster for removing oxides from sterling silver, is safe to use, organic and completely non-toxic. It does cost more than sodium bisulphate, but it goes a long way and I feel good about using it. It can be saved and re-used again and again, adding water to it as it evaporates. When disposed of, it can be diluted and safely poured down a drain.
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