Leah Crafard Hi Leah! Sorry it took me so long to reply. RU-vid held up your comment as spam. Yeah, it's a shame that people don't talk more about how to avoid polluting the planet. Glad you found this video informative. Thanks for watching! ; )
Thanks for the comment. One of my personal goals is to teach people how to achieve their goals without damaging themselves or the environment. Thanks for watching! : )
Congratulations on your soldering success Hilarie. Be sure to put the bucket of spent pickle, baking soda and cat litter somewhere where the cats won't get into it. Thanks for your support! : )
The OJA has a video on making a cold pickle solution from apple cider vinegar and brown sugar. But, you'd still need to dispose of it according to the requirements of your municipality. That's because of the oxides and such that are held in the solution. Hopefully the cat litter method will be acceptable in your area. Thanks for your support! : )
Great video! I'm new to metalsmithing and have been using the same pickle solution for about a year now. I'm ready for a fresh batch. I'm wondering, since there are metals in the pickle that accumulate over time, why is it safe to throw it in some kitty litter and then into the trash? I realize that the water will evaporate out, but doesn't the kitty litter then become saturated with metals?
In shops that work primarily with copper and silver, the pickle solution turns green because it becomes saturated with copper sulfate. As I mentioned in the video, most communities do not want you to put this material down the drain. Depending on where you live, you may have the option of neutralizing the solution and evaporating the moisture out of a clay based material such as cat litter. And then you just throw the "salty" clay away in the trash. Otherwise, you will have to hire a chemical disposal firm to remove the material from your shop. Check with your municipality to find out what the regulations are in your area. Thanks for your support! : )
Hi John, I did this exact method, I actually did this in a very ventilated room, a good breeze (the curtains were moving) and 4 windows on a windy day and all the other doors open - lots of crosswinds. When I put in the baking soda, a huge cloud of fume blossomed out of the bucket, and even though I held my breath and ran away, I felt a horrible icky nasty suffocating feeling in my lungs. I was coughing and running outside. This was 10 minutes ago, and I still feel like I smoked 10 cigarettes (and I don't smoke). I was disposing of Sparex pickle. I now have a hideous headache, laying down now. Please advise others, this should be done outside and upwind, with a respirator mask.
Hi Gabi, I'm so sorry to hear that you had an icky experience. I want to mention that I NEVER promote the use of Sparex. I hate that product. It stinks, leaves a sticky residue near your pickle pot, and it chokes you. I always recommend that folks use Sodium Bisulfate in their pickle pot. It's easy to find in the spa section at the hardware store, it's inexpensive, doesn't have a bad oder, and doesn't leave a residue on surfaces. In short, the difference in what I did in the video and what you did at home was the chemical being neutralized. Throw out your Sparex! Be well. : )
I had somewhat the same experience with sparex. First, make sure the pickle is cold; don't do this with warm pickle. Second, add the baking soda a small amount at a time. Third, do this outdoors, never indoors. That will mitigate most problems. Fourth, you can use less acid/powder than you think, try making your solution with less powder and you'll find your pickle is still effective. Finally, ditch sparex, it's nasty. As the professor recommends, use Sodium Bisulphate (PhDown) from the home center or hardware store.
Hi Evelyn, I would say that your estimate is correct. I generally keep adding small amounts of baking soda until the spent pickle stops fizzing. Thanks for your support! : )
