Last fall I bought two bottles to keep on hand. I have a partially opened one that I have been using for the last two years. I went down and compared the two. The old one was a clear bottle and just had a label stating PCB Etchant Solution, use full strength, contents Ferric Chloride (Fe C13)
New bottle is white states same thing, contents; water, Ferric Chloride, Ferrous Chloride and Hyrochoric Acid.
I haven't tried any of the new stuff yet. I keep the old used stuff in my dipping tank which is 3" x 36" PVC pipe with a cap and a screw on top. I believe the solution rate was 15% Ferric Chloride and 85% water. The dip time was 5-10 seconds depending on effect wanted.
I will be doing a few more barrels as soon as the humidity goes up. My rusting box with a lid, light and warming plate in the winter months does not get a lot of humidity for a good job. The summer months I can get 85% humidity in the box which makes for a nice job. Plus it is easier to flood the barrels after dipping with a hose instead of trying to use a sink.
