"Joe" wrote in message
...
On Mon, 12 May 2008 20:02:12 -0400, Brian Lawson
wrote:


Hey Michael,

Short answer is yes. But it depends a lot on exactly what it is you
are doing, but the following is a guide line and used when building
model locomotive boilers of copper, after all the joints are done.

"To help clean the piece after soldering, it is quenched in "pickle",
a moderately strong sulfuric acid bath, or a pretty concentrated
solution of sodium bisulfate. Hydrochloric (muriatic) acid is better
for copper and brass. (Platter's call it "bright dip".)

Question: Why do they recommend sulfuric or sodium bisulfate first, if
muriatic is the preferred pickle? I'm not trying to be difficult,
mostly just curious as to what other materials model loco builders
might use for boilers.

Also, does the pickle work fine at room temperature?


You may want to check with the manufacturers of your silver brazing alloy.
Here in the UK, model engineers (and professionals AFAIK) have mostly
abandoned sulphuric and hydrochloric pickling as unnecessarily dangerous.

The standard EasyFlo 2 flux used here can be removed with hot water and that
is what the suppliers (Johnson Matthey) recommend.

Many modellers here use citric acid solution. Resonably readily available
and harmless - leave the work in it for a few hours and it will do as good a
job as sulphric or hydrochloric without the risks.