I recently became interested in raising copper. I understand the need to soften the copper often due to work hardening.
My question is, no matter how hot I seem to get the copper prior to dropping it in water, it always comes out dark in color aside from small areas.
I watched a guy heat a piece of copper he had sunk and it came out of the water bright and clean.
Do copper workers put something in the water to achieve this?
The guy I watched did not comment as to what he used.