Fruit pickle......

I steeped the end of this bit of 3" copper tube in my "pickle" for 24 hours and was quite pleased with the result.

£1.90 a litre from Morrisons - bargain!

I buy citric acid powder to clean off light rust, I have wondered if that is OK as pickle solution. But I do get asked what it is for at the chemist

It gets used to cut drugs.

I wonder how many people have responded 'I've got a bag of heroin I need to stretch out...'

A bit like that USA visa question 'have you ever taken part in or planned an act of terrorism of genocide?' - one poor lady answered 'yes' by accident.

Neil

Rik, much cheaper and more convenient, no embarrassing questions, if bought online, food grade citric acid powder is readily available and a very reasonable price. I use it for pickle and it also descales coffee machines as a bonus.

Dave W

Having purchased some brick cleaner, as mentioned in previous posts, it worked well. However a word of warning I had it in an open tray, and without giving it a thought left it on the bench for a couple of weeks. Imagine my horror to discover that many nearby items, including my apprentice scribing block, had all been attacked by the fumes. Fairly serious de-rusting and clean up job was the result. A cautionary tale perhaps.

Mike

I did not want to put why they asked that. The chemist now gets use to me buying it and knows why I need it, so far no funny knocks on the front door by men in uniforms

There are a number of places to get citric acid, garden shops, home brew beer shops, if you really want bulk agricultural animal feed suppliers, or you can just go to the food preparation section of the Super Market. You have to be a bit desperate to go to the Chemist, this stuff is more refined that even the Super Market or Home Brew Citric Acid.

I also get Alum, and Borax from the garden shop.

Ian S C

I bought 4 packets of citric acid granules ( 40 gram ea. ) from the home brew section in 'Boyes' ( usual disclaimer ), iirc they were about 80p per packet.

George.

Wonder how well it would clean Aluminum?

I found that a mild citric acid solution works very well in my ultrasonic cleaner for cleaning fired/decapped brass centrefire cartridge cases destined for reloading. (Citric acid powder purchased at the local supermarket).

In 5 minutes I get a result as good as my vibrating tumbler achieves overnight (and no pesky walnut shells to poke out of the primer holes).

For aluminium I use this **LINK** (not in the ultrasonic) although I have heard that Coca Cola or rhubarb leaves simmered in a pot work ok.

Rhubarb leaves contain oxalic acid - that's why one does NOT eat them!

* Danny M *

Edited By Danny M2Z on 01/10/2018 08:15:42

That works out at £20/kilo. You can buy it on line for about £5/kilo post free. Also useful as rust remover and kettle descaler.

Russell