This is my first attempt at working with brass sheet. I just soldered a piece of copper sheet to some brass sheet and then put it in the pickle. When I removed it from the pickle I noticed some copper color on the bronze piece which I am assuming is the solder that ran out while heating. I used silver solder, but it looks coppery now. Does the same method of putting a steel nail in the pickel to plate copper work with brass or will it affect the brass in a different way?

Great question!
No, your solder didn't run. And you didn't plate your piece.

The heat from your torch brought the copper in the brass to the surface. Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc. So when it's heated too much, the zinc burns off and you're left with orangey stains of copper. 

My best advice is to abrade the stain off to get back to a brassy color. Use sandpaper, or an aggressive pre-polishing compound like Greystar to remove the stain.

 ~Addie~

Thanks, Addie.  Do you know if those 3M Radial discs would work on that? Some of the stain is in a very tight place. I don't have any to try but I would certainly get some if they would do the job!

Sue W.

Those would definitely work.
Just remember to keep moving the disc across the metal as it spins.
They cut so quickly that if you leave the disc in one place for too long you'll find yourself with a trench!

Then I'd get some of those silicone polishing bits to shine the metal back up - a saucer-shaped or bullet-shaped point reaches into close quarters well.

Best of luck!
~Addie~

 Removing copper stain is a real pain. Is there any way to prevent it.