McKenzie acid

[DEERXNG]

  After mixing up a batch for deer caps, how long will this stuff last. will it loose its strength?

[ShawnK]

As long as ph stays

[freeze_1]

Test it twice a day for a couple of days with ph paper.
It should be at or below 2.
 After a couple of days it should stabilize, checked daily it
 should last 2-3 weeks. At least that's what I do.

[GWebb]

Not trying to sound like a cheapo but I have kept the same acid for months, wash your capes prior to putting them in there, keep a check on the PH especially after adding a new cape for a few days, add more acid if needed and discard once it is dirty. 

[DEERXNG]

 Cool,do you guys flush it down the pot or dump it outside?

[sergeant133]

DEERXNG,

         If you don't have any experience with McKenzie acid I would have to ask this question first......How many capes are you going to put in the acid at once?  To me with little experience you are flirting with disaster!  McKenzie Acid is a very safe form to use and if used properly yields a good result.  However some people have problems with the PH jumping around on the mix.  Once again this is NOT on the instructions but the amount you mix may cause this.   For example a big midwestern deer is going to take a little bit bigger of a batch vs a deer from lets say Mississippi.   I too used to have problems until Phel Helms from McKenzie and I figured this out.   I'm from Illinois so our deer are bigger than some.   I would mix a five gallon batch for one cape and experience problems with my PH.  I moved to a seven gallon batch, unless it's a 1 1/2 year old, and have not had a lick of problems.  I NEVER reuse a pickle and rrinse my caoes off before putting them in the pickle.  Rinsing is basically done int he re hydrating process.

        Here's the problem I foresee.  If you mix up a batch for more than one cape, what are you going to do if your PH goes haywire because you may not have enough pickle mixed up.  Instead of screwing up on cape you're going to screw up several.   Be safe and pickle one per batch until you have a great feel for it.  Remember where your from may make a difference on your batch.   It's been years now since my PH has EVER moved and I've not had one slip yet.

[sergeant133]

BTW, I put baking soda in the mix after I use it.  This neutralizes the acid then I pour it down my sink drain in my shop.  Wash my barrels out and start all over again with a new batch and different cape.

[DEERXNG]

Thanks for the info. I live in va and  the deer here are small ,so I use 5gal per cape.