just starting out i am going to try the viniger and salt or the ph down. i have seen people use a plastic container to put the product in then put the container in the water in a pot like a double boiler. is this how it is done with all of them.

thanks in advance

I'm a little confused.....

Do you mean they put the mixed solution in a container inside another container ? If so, I'm not sure why or what would be in the other container (oh sorry you said water - still don't know why - unless their container is REALLY big and they are just trying to size it down..).

 I believe most people mix the solution right in the crock pot or jar (or whatever container you are using). I sometimes use a plastic container (vented) down in the crock pot in order to place granules or other items I don't want to try to fish out of the pickle. Ya know?

Also, be sure your container is not steel.....it needs to be ceramic, plastic, copper, glass.....(but be careful with glass as far as breakage, heating - not that you want to get pickle to boiling or anything...)

Hope that helps. :)

yes it did thanks

Hi d, I just used the vinegar and salt pickle on copper, and it worked great! I put my mixture in a jar and put the jar in a pot of water, and heated on the stove.

thanks think i will try that one first

The plastic dish that is sometimes seen inside a pickle pot is a small yogurt or other container with holes punched in the bottom -- so the pickle can get in but small things like chain links don't get lost in the bottom of the pickle. That way, you can pick up the plastic, let the pickle drain out and get to the parts easily. Eventually, the plastic will wear out but it works for keeping small parts from getting loose in the pickle and trying to sort them out with those big copper tongs. Hope that helps.

Sorry, just read back..what Janice said.

 I've heard that you can cut a lemon in half and rub it on your metal to clean it.  Also if you use a a flame type that is near neutral but just on the side of reducing it will actually clean the oxides from your metal while soldering, this works well for not pickling between soldering seems, but you still have to clean your metal when your done soldering.      Frank Mueller

I use plain white vinegar in a small potpourri pot made by one of the crock pot makers. I got it at a yard sale for fifty cents.I also have a large crock pot with good ole Sparax in it for larger items when necessary. The little potpourri pot is fine for most rings, bracelets and pendants. I gave up on adding the salt. I couldn't tell that much difference from plain vinegar.