Put on rubber gloves and protective eyewear. The chemicals you are working with are quite caustic. Work in a well-ventilated area.
Mix all ingredients in a tall, nonmetal container. A plastic bucket works well.
Do not pour any of the chemicals down the sink or outside. Dispose of any leftover concrete stain and chemicals according to the hazardous materials guidelines for your area.
Cover 10 square feet of concrete floor with a single batch of stain. If you need more, mix a second batch. Do not mix one large batch because as the fumes may be overwhelming.
Mix together 1 tablespoon of potassium dichromate and ¼ cup of manganese carbonate in the plastic bucket.
Slowly and carefully pour in ½ cup of muriatic acid. The mixture will foam so be sure that your bucket has tall sides.
Add 2 more teaspoons of acid and stir the mixture thoroughly with a wooden paint stick.
Combine ½ teaspoon potassium dichromate and 2 teaspoons manganese carbonate in the plastic bucket.
Slowly and carefully pour in 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon of muriatic acid. Stir the mixture with a wooden paint stick as you add the acid to prevent the foaming solution overflowing the container.
Pour in ¼ cup water in a steady stream as you stir the mixture with the paint stick until it is well combined.
Heat 1 tablespoon potassium dichromate and 1 cup hot water over low heat in a nonmetallic pot until the potassium dichromate dissolves and the liquid is uniform throughout.
Transfer the liquid to the plastic bucket once it cools a bit. Add 1 teaspoon hydrochloric acid, ¼ cup copper sulfate and ¼ cup of sodium chloride plain table salt, to the mixture.
Stir the solution well with a wooden paint stick. It will look green or yellow-green but as it dries on the concrete, it will turn bright orange.
Pour ¼ cup of copper sulfate into the plastic bucket.
Add 1 cup of very warm water to the bucket. Let the solution sit for two hours without stirring.
Stir the solution with a wooden paint stick until all the copper sulfate is dissolved and the color of the stain is consistent throughout.
Mix together 1 cup of very warm water and ¼ cup of copper sulfate in the plastic bucket using a wooden paint stick.
Add ¼ cup sodium chloride, plain table salt.
Stir the mixture with the paint stick until it is well blended.
Make this stain just before you plan to use it. Because it contains iron sulfate, this stain will create rust particles if it sits a long time.
Combine 2/3 cup very warm water and ¼ cup iron sulfate in the plastic bucket.
Stir the mixture well with a wooden paint stick.