Clean clear glass, a homemade solution
 

I don't know if a lot of you have seen the facebook post from Frantz art glass about cleaning your glass with metal pickle.

http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/p...&id=1135216494

I was intrigued, but didn't want to add a toxic substance to my studio. You can read all about the non toxic solution I found and how it worked on my blog here.

http://isinglassdesign.blogspot.com/...-lampwork.html

I was very impressed with the results.
Hope it helps everyone!

What if our glass doesn't look dirty? I clean mine with windex. I then melt and pinch the cut ends before I start using them. I've never really noticed dirt or gunk in the glass unless I've done something goofy.

Sodium bisulfite isn't much more toxic than table salt!

NaHSO3 Sodium bisulfite (pickle)
Sodium bisulfite is sold by some home winemaking suppliers to prevent oxidation and preserve flavor. In fruit canning, it is used to prevent browning (caused by oxidation) and to kill microbes. It is also added to leafy green vegetables in salad bars and elsewhere, to preserve apparent freshness


http://www.pesticideinfo.org/Detail_...Rec_Id=PC34354

http://sciencekit.com/images/art/Sod...ite_643.00.pdf
Sodium Bisulfite: LD50 [oral, rat]; 2000 mg/kg; LC50 [rat]; N/A; LD50 Dermal [rabbit]; N/A
Material has not been found to be a carcinogen nor produce genetic, reproductive, or developmental effects


NaCl Sodium Chloride (table salt)
http://www.pesticideinfo.org/Detail_...Rec_Id=PC34362

http://www.sargentwelch.com/pdf/msds...ide_652.00.pdf
Sodium Chloride: LD50 [oral, rat]; 3000 mg/kg; LC50 [rat]; N/A; LD50 Dermal [rabbit]; N/A
Material has not been found to be a carcinogen nor produce genetic, reproductive, or developmental effects

Pickle glass thread
http://www.lampworketc.com/forums/sh...t=Pickle+glass

Nice to know I can do this with things I already have in my house! Thanks for putting in the research!!!!

You can use heated vinegar as a pickle. It's the acid content.

You can use it on glass windows to clean them, so why not rods?

I wash mine. I've put it in the dishwasher.

The sodium bisulphate isn't that much more toxic, and it does a better job of cleaning out the weeny scratches. That said, I use vinegar and salt as a pickle when I have only a light amount of firescale to clean.

Thanks for sharing this! We all are always looking for ways to improve our clear glass!

I like it when I can use supplies that I already have around the house.