I have checked the archives and may not have entered the correct words to get answers to my question. I am currently pickling an elk cape in formic acid pickle solution. I bought a quart to try it and have found that I'm almost out of formic and I haven't shaved the cape. My pickle solution is not clean but I think it will be OK for using after shaving. My question; can different types of acids be used in one pickle solution? I have used Safety acid in other pickles and have over a gallon of it on hand. I had to mix up a 10 gallon formic pickle and may not have enough formic left to adjust the ph down if it goes up very much.I started at a 1.5 ph but it has crept up to around 2 and I have added formic twice to get it back to 1.5. Can I safely add a small amount of Safety acid to a formic pickle? I worked in the chemical industry for 27 years and dealt with lots of very dangerous acids(nitric, sulfuric,etc) and understand the dangers of acids splashes, boil,fumes,etc. I just don't want to ruin a beautiful cape! Any assistance will be most appreciated.
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As long as it is under 3.0 you will be okay. Did you use a bacteriacide in the solution? Ph level of 2.0 to 2.5 is the magic numbers I was told that you want. I think 1.5 is almost getting to low. I've never run it at that level. Maybe someone from a tannery can say more about it.
I don't worry about too low PH. Mine is usually around 1.5 to 2.0. I do use saftee acid though.
Formic "bottoms" out at around 2.0-2.2. No matter how much you use - you'll never go lower. So dont waste your acid and settle for a PH level of 2.0-2.2 and you'll be fine. This is the typical range for a Formic Acid pickle. You may be OK as is and not have to add another acid.
Using Saftee Acid with it will bring it lower - but you will have to use an excess amount of it. Not 0.5 fl. ozs. per 1 gallon. Maybe more like 4 fl. ozs. per 1 gallon of pickle - it all depends on how much excess Formic Acid is already in the pickle.
Formic can and will drop below a pH of 2. Mixing equal amounts of formic (88%) and distilled water, creats a 44% solution and it will pH below 1. I'm guessing that the pH paper most of you all are using bottoms out at 2...
and/or the water used for the pickles contains minerals, scale or has been "softened"..This will cause a "buffering" effect and will take more acid to lower the pH.
I wouldn't...
for instance
alone concentrated hydrochloric acid won't touch gold
nor will concentrated nitric acid...
but, mix 3 parts hydrochloric and 1 part nitric acid (Aqua regia) and it will dissolve gold.....
I appreciate all input on my question. I shaved the elk cape today and put it back into the pickle for a couple more days.As for shaving, I didn't notice any difference with the formic pickle as opposed to my normal Safety acid. There was the vinegar smell that isn't there with Safety. I do know that the formic recipe I used is MUCH more expensive.
BTW, I use 0-3 ph paper and just opened a new package. My pickle has read as low as 1.5 and is currently reading between 1.5 and 2.0 with the formic pickle.
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