I mixed a big batch of safty acid and pickled some deer capes. They turned out fine. I looked in the barrel yesterday and found mold growing on the top. I haven't checked the ph as I am sure it is more than the two it should be. My question is this. Can this pickle be salvaged by bringing the ph back down or do I have to waste it. Thanks for your help.
Wade
I'm no Bruce Rittel, but I recommend dumping it. Especially since your using Saftee-Acid, this product is economical enough to mix a fresh batch, so why even risk it? Just my $.02. Marc R
I also have some pickle, this same batch has hides in it for over two years. It is formic acid, NO FRICKING MOLD! Nada, none, silch, this is why I will never use saftey acid of citric acid. Just my $.02 worth, learned the hard way.
I have had mold in my Saftey-Acid and it has only showed up when I have not stirred solution on a regular basis with no hides in the acid bath. Even though it may not be recommended, I have sucessfully tanned deer hides with the same solution buy skimming off the mold, checking the ph level and salt mixture, and only adding a new #1 gal. batch to the old solution. I have not had any problems with slippage.
I worked for about a year at a major fur tannery and learned
tanning from one of the absolute best in the industry. We al-
ways used formic acid with no molding or holding problems.kept indefinatly. swelled up really plump.I recently have tried saftee acid and had the mold problem within 2 weeks. Didnt plump worth a damn and didnt get that nice blue color when shaved. Needless to say i am looking for a supplier of formic acid in oregon or s.w. washington. Anybody knows of one let me know please!
If you have a pickle and mold begins to grow on its surface - your best option is to pour it off, rinse your skins, and place them in a new pickle. I have removed the mold from pickles that werent stirred, and then added a fungicide, but I prefer the peace of mind that no mold is present. Mold is not very discriminating either. I have pickled using Saftee, Oxalic, Formic, Citric and Acetic acids, and left unstirred for long periods after they were used - they ALL grew mold! A lot has to do with the humidity level of your shop as to how fast it will occur, but stirring the pickle regularly, usually prevents it. I keep skins and capes constantly in the different pickles, including Saftee Acid, sometimes for up to 8-10 months waiting to use them for testing, so this is something I am familiar with. Mold is usually introduced to the pickle by being air-borne, and depositing on its surface. Left undisturbed, it naturally multiplies until it becomes large enough to be visable. Regular stirring will prevent this.
I put 3/4oz of bleach per 5gal of acid mix, seems to work grate and it don't do anything to the hair. I use formic and have still had mold on occasion But that stopped with the use of the small amount of bleach.
I'm no Rittel or a chemist by any means .I do however remember that in high school chem labs we found out (unless modern chemistry has changed in 18 yrs)that bleach is a BASIC (higher than 7 pH)compound.Why in the world would you add a base to an acid(less than 7 pH),it would only screw up your pH.
Yes The P.H on bleach is 8 soooo? As I said I use 3/4 of an oz per 5gal of acid solution do you really Think this would (screw up} you acid solution? In no way does this amount have any effect on the P.H, Water is 7. Next time don't skip the math class....... :)