Muratic Acid

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I'm finally getting around to using what I bought last week. My question to those who have used it. I've read the MSDS sheet for it and was wondering, What's your guys process for using it?I've got a 5 gal container with lid. I put in about a quarter of a gal of distilled water and about a half gallon of the muriatic acid in this container. Then I put a couple of coupons that had some rust and mill scale on them in there and in about 3 minutes they were clean as a whistle Is it good enough to put those coupons in a gallon of fresh water and then pull them out to dry and then weld them?Mike
Reply:I used a blue plastic 55 gallon barrel and mixed one part acid to three parts water.  It takes about 10 or 15 minutes to take off the scale from hot rolled steel and even less to take off rust.  Also I have used capped off pvc set at 45 degree angle for long pieces of angle and flat.  Then rinse well.  This stuff lasts a long time.  A light rust will form very quickly, just brush the weld area and get a great weld.
Reply:w.t.f. is a coupon?i use them for discounts at the food store......zap!I am not completely insane..Some parts are missing Professional Driver on a closed course....Do not attempt.Just because I'm a  dumbass don't mean that you can be too.So DON'T try any of this **** l do at home.
Reply:Is it good enough to put those coupons in a gallon of fresh water and then pull them out to dry and then weld them?
Reply:Originally Posted by zapsterw.t.f. is a coupon?i use them for discounts at the food store......zap!
Reply:Originally Posted by riley mcmillanI used a blue plastic 55 gallon barrel and mixed one part acid to three parts water.  It takes about 10 or 15 minutes to take off the scale from hot rolled steel and even less to take off rust.  Also I have used capped off pvc set at 45 degree angle for long pieces of angle and flat.  Then rinse well.  This stuff lasts a long time.  A light rust will form very quickly, just brush the weld area and get a great weld.
Reply:I understand about coupons.  I used paint coupons when painting radomes for a radar system.  These were required by quality control and gov. regulations.You are welcome.
Reply:Thanks for the pics.. they look like flat stock to me.. ...zap!I am not completely insane..Some parts are missing Professional Driver on a closed course....Do not attempt.Just because I'm a  dumbass don't mean that you can be too.So DON'T try any of this **** l do at home.
Reply:Dang Zap I bet your real name is bam bam and you was born with a club lol.
Reply:How would you do 20' pieces of pipe?
Reply:get two 21' pieces of 2 by four wood and make a trough with visqueen plastic then fill it with the solution and lay the pipe in it . don tdo this on your cement driveway though ...everything is temporary
Reply:Be aware that every ferrous metal object within a few feet of your stored acid will probably rust due to fumes evolved from even tightly sealed containers if left for many months.  Storage in a secure, ventilated, outdoor, wooden enclosure is advisable unless you have a special storage locker vented to the outdoors.  Don't ask me how I know.awright
Reply:Will this work in removing galvanize coating from stock?
Reply:i made a trough using pvc, i capped each end then ran threw a bandsaw. i was using it to soak some 2x4's for treatment. not sure if the acid will eat the pipe."Retreat hell, were just fighting in the other direction"Miller Trailblazer 302, Extreme 12 VS, Dimension 400, Spectrum 375, HF 251D-1, Milermatic 251 w/ spoolgun  Hypertherm 1000Lincoln sp 1702000 F-450 to haul it
Reply:Originally Posted by puengueWill this work in removing galvanize coating from stock?
Reply:PuengueI have used it to clean galvanized pipe, successfully.It doesn't clean oily metal well.  Oil must be removed.
Reply:Thanks. I have a bunch of 1/2 x 2" galvanized flat bar that I use for practice welds using Stick & Mig. Usually I grind off the coating,but will try using muratic acid.
Reply:Originally Posted by puengueThanks. I have a bunch of 1/2 x 2" galvanized flat bar that I use for practice welds using Stick & Mig. Usually I grind off the coating,but will try using muratic acid.
Reply:My experience with metal and muriatic acid is kind of funny.  When I was much younger and more careless, I set my mountain bike near a sealed gallon container of muriatic acid in my parents garage.  After several weeks of riding my road bike, I decided to take the mountain bike out for a spin.  I lifted it out of the corner of the garage and noticed that 1/3 of all three aluminum front chainrings were gone!  It looked like someone took a plasma cutter to them.  When I set my mountain bike down, I had pierced the top of the gallon of acid with the teeth of the largest chainring, and the vapors dissolved the teeth of the chainring.  In addition, the vapors that drifted down the container to the floor etched the concrete floor around the container.  Pops wasn't real thrilled, and I had to replace about $50 worth of chainrings.Be careful,cricman
Reply:Originally Posted by cricmanMy experience with metal and muriatic acid is kind of funny.  When I was much younger and more careless, I set my mountain bike near a sealed gallon container of muriatic acid in my parents garage.  After several weeks of riding my road bike, I decided to take the mountain bike out for a spin.  I lifted it out of the corner of the garage and noticed that 1/3 of all three aluminum front chainrings were gone!  It looked like someone took a plasma cutter to them.  When I set my mountain bike down, I had pierced the top of the gallon of acid with the teeth of the largest chainring, and the vapors dissolved the teeth of the chainring.  In addition, the vapors that drifted down the container to the floor etched the concrete floor around the container.  Pops wasn't real thrilled, and I had to replace about $50 worth of chainrings.Be careful,cricman
Reply:Remember also security from curious neighbor kids.  Beware of creating an, "attractive nuisance."
Reply:Originally Posted by awrightRemember also security from curious neighbor kids.  Beware of creating an, "attractive nuisance."
Reply:How do you dispose of the old muratic acid?  I actually tried some tonight on aluminized exhaust tubing and some hot rolled steel.  I left some in a glass jar that I will lock up outside the house in a storage box with the 1 gal plastic container I picked up at Lowe's.  I bet the top of the glass jar will be eaten up quickly by the vapors from this stuff.  Am I right?  If so, how do I store it for reuse?Thermal Arc 185TSW
Reply:Yeah, don't get it on any good concrete it will etch it. They use muratic acid to do exposed aggregate concrete work.
Reply:Originally Posted by zapsterw.t.f. is a coupon?WARNING!  I am not a chemist or a safety expert!  These opinions are based upon my childhood experiments a long time ago.BUT, if I was trying to dispose of waste muriatic (hydrochloric) acid I'd neutralize it SLOWLY AND CAREFULLY in a MILD base solution such as sodium bicarbonate in water.  You will see litmus paper (paper strips to determine if a solution is basic or acidic) change color at the instant the solution passes through pH 7.0 (neutral).  Litmus paper is very cheap and you used to be able to get a container with several dozen strips at chemical supply houses.  I'm not sure, but I think you could also get a form of litmus paper in garden supply houses for soil testing.  I don't remember if blue or red indicates acid, but you will find out quickly enough.ALWAYS wear goggles or a plastic face shield and rubber gloves when messing with strong chemicals and especially when trying to neutralize acids or bases because if you mix in the wrong order or too quickly you can get a violent reaction that will splash acid around.  Remember those childhood experiments with vinegar (acetic acid) and sodium bicarbonate?  This can even happen if you pour pure water into a strong acid, which is why you are always advised to pour the acid into the water, not the water into the acid, when diluting.  For the same reason, you should slowly pour the acid you want to neutralize into the soda solution, not the reverse.Properly done, you can end up with a non-corrosive neutral solution.  This does not necessarily mean the neutral solution can be legally poured down the drain because there may be laws against putting dissolved metals down the sewer system.  Check with your local waste water authority.  But, at least it will not be dangerously corrosive.Storage of the acid in all-plastic containers is fairly safe, but I have seen some plastic containers blistered and embrittled after years of holding hydrochloric acid.  The acid will definitely make quick work of a metal cap.  Last time I stored some acid I put it in an all-plastic bottle and cap inside a heavy plastic bag tightly sealed and put the whole thing in a plastic bucket.   It still caused rust on nearby ferrous metals after a few years.  Be sure to mark the bottle clearly and put a string tag on the whole thing to warn others who may find it later.  Outdoor storage in a secure wooden enclosure is the safest procedure, if feasible.awright
Reply:I love the stuff. in a one litter mountain dew bottle and some tin foil its all kinds of fun. or any sealable bottle for that matter. just be carfull it gets supper hot when reacting violently. and you wouldnt want it to blow in your face. so throw it far.
Reply:I can think of at least 100 reasons why that is a really bad idea.Miller EconotigCutmaster 38Yes ma'am, that IS a screwdriver in my pocket!
Reply:This coming from  a guy who is smoking a pipe bigger than he is?
Reply:I used to be a chemist.  I worked in a state laboratory.  We analyzed metals, so acid was always around.  The lab was about 30 years old.  As benign as thing seemed around there (benign smell) the vapors from the acid detoriated everything.  Even plastic were stick.  Galvanized duct work was brown with rust.  Anyway beware of enclosed areas.
Reply:Originally Posted by puengueWill this work in removing galvanize coating from stock?
Reply:Originally Posted by chadrHow do you dispose of the old muratic acid?  I actually tried some tonight on aluminized exhaust tubing and some hot rolled steel.  I left some in a glass jar that I will lock up outside the house in a storage box with the 1 gal plastic container I picked up at Lowe's.  I bet the top of the glass jar will be eaten up quickly by the vapors from this stuff.  Am I right?  If so, how do I store it for reuse?
Reply:Muriatic Acid is a very common chemical in the swimming pool maintenance trade. Prior to "wasting", it needs to be neutralized with a base and pH tested to make sure it has been neutralized, as mentioned above. Also, it has been mentioned, but it bears repeating... ONLY store in a secure and very well ventilated area, preferably outdoors. The fumes will rust any and everything in proximity in a very short period of time. If you store it inside a residential garage, every piece of metal in the garage will have surface rust very quickly...
Reply:You have to go way down in the Wikipedia entry for "Coupon," past all the descriptions of commercial promotional discount tickets, but it's there:"The term "coupon" is also used in manufacturing and material science to refer to a small piece of material used for testing or further processing, compare billet."I think it is a fairly commonly used term in welding books for the small pieces of metal used to test welding skills and setups.awright
Reply:FYI Muratic acid IS hydrochloric acid (HCL as mentioned in the previous post).  Keep aluminum away from it, or aluminized steels, because the reaction is nasty...HCL+AL-> ALCL+ H2 + H202 (or something like that not very well balanced, but you guys get it) and sh$%loads of heat too because it's an exothermic reaction.... Just be warned that the major gaseous byproduct of the reaction is a semi-pure hydrogen gas (hybrid) that makes Acetylene look pretty stable !!  I think I would avoid the pop bottle trick as well unless you like the view from Cuba  , and store large quantities of this liquid in a well ventilated area away from things that you hold precious!
Reply:It sounds like a terribly awful experiment that should never be tempted at all. Can you tell me exactly how to do it?Lincoln Power Mig 210MP MIGLincoln Power Mig 350MP - MIG and Push-PullLincoln TIG 300-300Lincoln Hobby-Weld 110v  Thanks JLAMESCK TIG TORCH, gas diffuser, pyrex cupThermal Dynamics Cutmaster 101My brain
Reply:Just so you can avoid  doing it' accidental like,'right?
Reply:That should be ATTEMPTED, not Tempted......I dunno how I did that.Lincoln Power Mig 210MP MIGLincoln Power Mig 350MP - MIG and Push-PullLincoln TIG 300-300Lincoln Hobby-Weld 110v  Thanks JLAMESCK TIG TORCH, gas diffuser, pyrex cupThermal Dynamics Cutmaster 101My brain
Reply:Hydrogen is an extremely stable gas, it is just extremely combustible with oxygen and, I presume, other oxidizing agents such as chlorine.Acetylene, on the other hand, is unstable and can spontaneously and violently dissociate (explode) above some moderate pressure (about 15 PSIG, as I recall), even in the absence of oxygen or heat.  This is why acetylene is stored and transported dissolved in acetone in a porous clay matrix inside your acetylene tank.Despite its stability, the high combustibility of hydrogen makes adequate ventilation very important in the vicinity of any hydrogen producing activity, such as charging lead-acid batteries or dissolving metals in hydrochloric acid.Do not be tempted to play with hydrochloric acid and metals in sealed bottles.  You could easily end up with an acid shower.awright
Reply:the bottle thing is the same as "the works bomb"... you take the "the works" toilet bowl cleaner and put in some aluminum foil in a bottle, cap it and throw it. it takes a minute but it will go pop... or boom.. depending on the size of the bottle. "the works" has hydrochloric acid in it. You can also take apart old batteries and use the black stuff inside and mix it with hydrogen peroxide in a bottle and it will go boom or pop also. These experiments are best attempted in popular parks with lots of little kids to scare the crap out of...... just dont throw the bottle near them.Note: I was kidding about the park thing, these experiments are best attempted in the middle of nowhere where you will not be disturbing the peace, giving old ladies heart attacks or spewing hydrochloric acids on little kids.
Reply:There is a hazardous waste disposal center not too far from my house in Sacramento. When I have something like acid or old paint to dispose of, I seal it, mark it and drive it over. They take it and get rid of it. There's no charge so long as you have less than 125 pounds or material.Miller Millermatic 252Miller Syncrowave 200Liincoln AC-DC 225Victor O-A Set
Reply:Be careful of the popbottle trick. I was arrested, went to court facing a federal felony, and have an F.B.I. number for the rest of my life because I set off several of these in succession in my neighbors mail boxes. 12 total. It was 10 years ago, and I dont regret it. It was very cool and very funny---until the patrol car rounded the corner. The cops call the pop bottle trick a bomb. They dont think Its as funny as I do. You only need to be 2% smarter than what you are working on.Lincoln pm140hacksawa big hammer
Reply:Originally Posted by MB2005Be careful of the popbottle trick. I was arrested, went to court facing a federal felony, and have an F.B.I. number for the rest of my life because I set off several of these in succession in my neighbors mail boxes. 12 total. It was 10 years ago, and I dont regret it. It was very cool and very funny---until the patrol car rounded the corner. The cops call the pop bottle trick a bomb. They dont think Its as funny as I do.
Reply:Originally Posted by gnm109They take it and get rid of it. There's no charge so long as you have less than 125 pounds or material.
Reply:Originally Posted by MB2005Be careful of the popbottle trick. I was arrested, went to court facing a federal felony, and have an F.B.I. number for the rest of my life because I set off several of these in succession in my neighbors mail boxes. 12 total. It was 10 years ago, and I dont regret it. It was very cool and very funny---until the patrol car rounded the corner. The cops call the pop bottle trick a bomb. They dont think Its as funny as I do.
Reply:when i was a kid, we would put a piece of aluminum foil in a plastic bottle with muratic acid and cap it, then run.  It made a dandy boom.   Since then, i've kept aluminum and muratic acid separated.