Jewelry making - Pickling?

Question

I started getting into jewelry making recently. It's basically backyard jewelry making. I just carve the wax, add some plaster, and do the burnout in a forge that I built from a diesel brake drum. To heat the metal I use a graphite crucible and place it in the forge or I use oxy/acet and heat in a silica dish. The metal is then poured in the mold which rests in a steel can with a coat hanger attached. Albeit dangerous, it produces enough centrifugal force.

Anyhoo...

I'm creating a heart pendant and I wanted to try out some pickling solution that I was given yesterday. Generally I just polish rings and such with a dremel/polishing wheel and some red rouge. Once I am done I just wash it with soap and water. I am able to get a nice finish but will the pickle give it a better shine? How long should I leave the pendant in the pickle pot? I know heat makes the process faster, with that said, what temperatrure should I be aiming for?

Answer 1

I kept my pickle in a crock pot on high. It seemed to work quite well. I still had a lot of polishing to do though. If you can get a vacuum de-bubbleizer. It will reduce the amount of rough polishing you have to do. I prefer a foredom flexible shaft motor tool, it is really powerful and easy on the hands and wrists.I used to use a wooden ring vise to hold the piece as it could get really hot.

You might try fabrication with an acetylene torch, it can be fun!