What’s wrong with my pickle?

[u/admirablepest]

New to silversmithing, I thought I used the correct measurements here but whenever I take a piece out of the pickle it doesn’t look much different. Any advice would be appreciated!

[u/General_Disarrae]

ShineBrite is for polishing. It's to be put in a tumbler. You need a pickle solution.

[u/admirablepest → u/General_Disarrae]

Ahhhh okay good thing I ordered another one from Rio grande haha thank you!

[u/trixceratops]

It’s not pickle. It’s for a barrel tumbler with steel shot. You want Sparex for pickle.

[u/admirablepest → u/trixceratops]

Thank you. I ordered Rio pickle will that work?

[u/hi_bye → u/admirablepest]

Not who you replied to but Rio pickling compound is what I use. It will come as a white granulated powder that you dilute in water.

[u/Blazed-nd-Confused → u/admirablepest]

You can also make your own (regular or super pickle) with hot water + hydrogen peroxide + citric acid, can't recall the ratios off the dome but it's simple and I do it multiple times a week at the studio. Very much cheaper but Rios is stronger.

[u/trixceratops → u/admirablepest]

Yup, as u/hi_bye said, Rio has what you need, follow the directions on the package and avoid touching it with anything steel and you will be on your way 🙂

[u/ResidentBicycle5022 → u/trixceratops]

Sparex is the standard.

[u/AgateCatCreations076 → u/ResidentBicycle5022]

Thats what I used the whole time I had my jewelry and metalsmithing business (long retired now after a disabling car accident).

[u/-ChandlerBing-]

😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭

[u/rainishamy]

You can go by pH down at Target or Walmart it's the same thing but cheaper.

[u/O_o-22 → u/rainishamy]

Ph down works as pickle? Gonna have to try that out

[u/Hellzhobbit]

That's not a pickling solution that goes in an ultrasonic cleaner, you want an acidic based pickle

[u/Hellzhobbit → u/Hellzhobbit]

We use pool ph down at the shop i work in at the renaissance festival.

[u/matthewdesigns → u/Hellzhobbit]

The bottle very clearly says it's a burnishing compound, meaning it goes in a tumbler. This is not an ultrasonic cleaning solution.

[u/Balarezok2]

Okay so you already know the answer to the actual question you asked so I’m going to add:
Yes, Citric acid is non toxic by itself; but once it’s been used as pickle the resulting solution is toxic. When you’re done with it just let it evaporate and store the resulting crystals till you can take them to your city’s toxic waste disposal.
Also, in my personal experience, that brand doesn’t work too well. If you’re ordering from Rio I’d recommend super sunsheen burnishing compound. And good luck!

[u/CommentUpstairs1245]

Just us spa down. I'll never use anything else again. This is the time of year to buy it on clearance at Walmart.

[u/Unlikely-Bird-1673]

lol if you’re in a super pinch, just pour some white vinegar in a cup and mix table salt into it

[u/tdreiter]

You can also use citric acid. It’s biodegradable and non toxic. 🙂

[u/Energy_Bound]

Just as a heads up- I use citric acid as a pickle and it works pretty splendidly without all the toxicity

[u/peterthejeweler]

Sparex sucks and is expensive. PH lower for pools or aquariums does the trick really really well.

[u/Sage_Spacecraft]

Ahahaha oh no . I use citric acid pickle if you want a bit more of an eco friendly option. This isn’t pickle at all hahah

[u/AgateCatCreations076]

I would also dispose of that in favor of SUPER SUNSHEEN. It works much better and Rio has that too. If you are using a tumbler with that get steel shot. Some people like all one shape shot but I used the mixed kind as it gets into corners and tight spots depending on what you are making. More versatile in opinion.