Ken Bartz Posted January 1, 2010 Report Posted January 1, 2010 Have any of you used muriatic acid for rust removal (on a small scale)? Tell us of your experience(s). Quote
Joe Flanagan Posted January 1, 2010 Report Posted January 1, 2010 I've used phosphoric acid. Never muriatic. I've had good results from the phosphoric, so never saw any reason to switch. But if you find out muriatic acid works miracles, let me know. I'm always looking for a better angle on rust. Quote
dezeldoc Posted January 1, 2010 Report Posted January 1, 2010 If you are talking pool acid it works great, just watch the eyes and skin! i have cleaned engine blocks and a host of other parts and it has always been eazy to get the rust off the parts, but you need to make sure you rinse it very well and neutralize it with soda ash. you can dilute the stuff to where you want it so it is not as strong. do not use it on aluminum as it will eat it up and fast! Quote
Joe Flanagan Posted January 1, 2010 Report Posted January 1, 2010 So is pool acid muriatic acid? Inquiring minds, and all that. Quote
greg g Posted January 1, 2010 Report Posted January 1, 2010 muriaticisa buffered sulfuric acid. I have used it. It is stronger than phosphoric, and also more irritating nose, skin, and eyes. I did mine on a breezy day and had the wind from my back while working it. Have also used vinegar (5% acetic) works wellbut slower. Moleasses and water also works as does the electrolysis procedure. Electrolysis is probably less stress on the parts, as acid will brittle the metal a bit. Quote
daddyo23 Posted January 1, 2010 Report Posted January 1, 2010 I've used muratic acid and Greg is right. It's hard on the nose. But, it does take rust off well. Rinse it down good with water and give it a shot of paint and you're good to go. I used it on a number of brackets and other things when I pulled the motor last year. Quote
slicknapier Posted January 1, 2010 Report Posted January 1, 2010 As an ex hydrochemical engineer (pool boy)!, yes muratic acid is pool acid. Also try not to use it when it's really humid out because it makes a cloud that just kind of hangs out. Stuff is brutal to inhale... Quote
Captain Neon Posted January 1, 2010 Report Posted January 1, 2010 Muriatic acid is the layman's term for hydrochloric acid, not sulfuric. Sulfuric acid is battery acid or vitriol. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muriatic_acid Quote
Plymouthy Adams Posted January 1, 2010 Report Posted January 1, 2010 the main difference you all need to remember is that phosphoric acid only reacts with rust...it does not attack good metal Quote
greg g Posted January 1, 2010 Report Posted January 1, 2010 Oppps got my elements confabulated. Quote
Plymouthy Adams Posted January 1, 2010 Report Posted January 1, 2010 the molasses trick is great for giving nuts and bolts etc that parkerized look.. Quote
Plymouthy Adams Posted January 1, 2010 Report Posted January 1, 2010 no.....molasses is so far removed from caramel...as a kid I loved molasses..today..not so much.. Quote
knighthawk Posted January 1, 2010 Report Posted January 1, 2010 (edited) muratic acid will eat away at the rust and the metal, that's why you have to wash it off with water to stop it , while the phosphoric acid will 'encapsualate' the rust and stop it . Also, we used to use some muratic acid in a bucket of water , for heat treating or re-tempering iron in the welding shop , like after pounding out plow shares ( to re-sharpen them ) Also muratic acid will literally 'take your breath away ' ! Edited January 1, 2010 by knighthawk speling Quote
kencombs Posted January 1, 2010 Report Posted January 1, 2010 What a combo! Anyway, I've used both types of acid and electrolysis. Hydrocloric is fastest, electro seems to be the most complete removal. Plan to try the molasses bath this year. Love molasses smell. When I was a kid there was still a horse-drawn molasses mill in operation near my grandparents farm. Guy harvested 40 acres of molasses cane by hand/horse, crushed in the stone mill and boiled it down over a wood fire. Wood smoke, sweet molasses smell......boy that was good. Quote
Plymouthy Adams Posted January 1, 2010 Report Posted January 1, 2010 has been years since I attended a molasses gathering...the press to crush the cane and get the liquid to boil down was not an item every farm had..so they would all gather at one place to do the deed..once in awhile you can find a demostration at some "crafts" oriented working farm open to the public for show and tell..it is a educational but very unlike the old days when the folks worked and the kids ran willy milly playing games with all the other kids..Milton WV was the last time I saw a horse operated press and molasses being cooked..its an all day job and the process can not be huried at any one step either.. Quote
Don Coatney Posted January 1, 2010 Report Posted January 1, 2010 (edited) has been years since I attended a molasses gathering...the press to crush the cane and get the liquid to boil down was not an item every farm had..so they would all gather at one place to do the deed..once in awhile you can find a demostration at some "crafts" oriented working farm open to the public for show and tell..it is a educational but very unlike the old days when the folks worked and the kids ran willy milly playing games with all the other kids..Milton WV was the last time I saw a horse operated press and molasses being cooked..its an all day job and the process can not be huried at any one step either.. Pappa mole, mamma mole, and baby mole were all in the borro when mama mole said she smelled something sweet. Papa mole and moma mole stuck there heads out of the borro to see what was going on. Baby mole was stuck in the bottom of the borro and exclaimed ALL I CAN SMELL IS MOLASSES! Edited January 1, 2010 by Don Coatney Quote
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.