I learned something at yesterday’s guild meeting. “Pickling iron”. This is a simple technique to remove scale and clean up a forged piece before finishing it. This sounded like something a lazy person like me should try out! The process is: place the forging into a plastic container, cover it in vinegar and let it sit overnight. (no large investment in time or cost). I tried it overnight. I took the heart hook from Dan Tull's demo and left it overnight in a bath of apple cider vinegar. This removed the scale and borax residue without brushing. This hook was left with a dull, clean surface. See image gallery "Techniques" for before and and after pictures. Pictures:

Heart Hook before [1]

Heart Hook after [2]