Originally Posted by LesterOfPuppets

I was a metal plater for a couple of years. At first I was like "Nitric acid? Holy ****. Eeeek!"

Eventually I came to be way more fearful of the base than the acid that we worked with.

Dip yer hand in the caustic bath and your skin started sloughing off pretty quick. Dip it in some 35% Sulfuric acid and not as gnarly.

Just keep it out of your eyes, rinse it off your skin quickly. You won't die.