[TheForge] more on patinas, etc.

[James Binnion]

Citric acid (which can be purchased at feed stores I have been told  
and from soap makers for $0.50 a lb) works great for descaling iron  
or steel. It is safer than the pH minus (it is used as a food  
additive) It will also passivate stainless. And if you use a battery  
charger  hooked up to the work (+) and a piece of scrap stainless (-)  
of about the same surface area as the work it will strip the scale  
and discoloration from hot worked or welded stainless.

James Binnion
jbin at well.com