So, Besides Cucumbers, Do You Add Pickle To Your Glass?

Pickle is such an interesting concept when it comes to glass rods. When I used to think in a single dimension about glass, I used to think that a pickle is the result of what happens when you add vinegar and spices to a cleaned vegetable, usually a cucumber, allowed the mixture to process and ferment, then, after a time, a sealed jar was opened, and the result was a pickle.

Then I began to grow a bit. I learned that the term "Pickle" could also be applied to a mixture into which you placed your metal work to clean it. This pickle was always warm, and it took off fire scale.

Then, I began to grow again. I read a thread on Lampworketc in which the question was asked, "Has anyone tried pickling clear glass?" You can check that out here.
Pickle, I thought, hmmmmmm? I posed that same question to other people who melted glass.
Some people responded that they always cleaned their glass, but no one had tried to add pickle to their glass.

As it turned out, I received an order of glass that day. Before the glass went downstairs, it went into the dishwasher. Now, I haven't tried to pickle my glass yet, but I do clean it with a spray bottle of alcohol. I think I will, eventually, but I haven't done that yet. I will let you know what happens.

So, what do you do? Do you pickle? What are your results? Is it worth the effort or not? I'm interested in hearing.

This Is a True Story

One day, I had a repairman in my kitchen to work on my dishwasher. I noticed he kept looking up at the sink. He had a puzzled look on his face. I noticed that he would glance at the sink, then look at me.
After the repairman left, I was loading the dishes into my newly repaired dishwasher, I happened to look at what was next to my sink. I started to laugh. I had, approximately, a dozen empty wine bottles sitting there waiting to be soaked so that the labels could be removed. I can only imagine what the repairman was thinking as he looked at all of those empty wine bottles. On top of that, he had come into the kitchen through the garage where I store my extra wine bottles, and they were easily seen by anyone who walks through this entry into my house. When I realized what he had seen, and most likely though, I had to sit on the floor I was laughing so hard.
I only wish he had asked. I use the empty wine bottles that friends save for me. I use them to make glass beads. I put the bottles into a plastic bag. I drop them on the concrete floor of my basement. I take the chunks and use them to make glass beads. They are wonderful! I love making beads this way! Not only am I following the credo of: reduce, reuse, recycle, I am making some beautiful beads.