Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 19,810
Likes: 597
From: NJ, NYC, LI
Bikes: 1940s Fothergill, 1959 Allegro Special, 1963? Claud Butler Olympic Sprint, Lambert 'Clubman', 1974 Fuji "the Ace", 1976 Holdsworth 650b conversion rando bike, 1983 Trek 720 tourer, 1984 Counterpoint Opus II, 1993 Basso Gap, 2010 Downtube 8h, and...
Oh, boy. This is a question for a museum conservator, not a bicycle mechanic (and though I've worked as both, I am neither). I would be very careful with any kind of acid; make sure it wont hurt the bone. Soaking in water should be harmless enough, but if it doesn't work-- if you can't get the grip off-- and if there's already corrosion on the metal, the additional water is sure to exacerbate the corrosion problem... not good.
Why do you have to take the grip off?