MURATIC !
On Wed, 14 Feb 2007, Eric Neilsen wrote: I've mentioned this several times on the list, which apparently didn't register. I'd say Caveat Emptor, except I'm so tender hearted I say it again.Bob, you'll notice that they sell HCL/muriatic acid in plastic bottles. I think you're safe there. Highly concentrated acid should be in glass, but weaker mixes you are ok with some plastics. First, yes, "muriatic" is for all practical purposes as strong as HCL, tho it's not lab grade, but the fact that they sell it in plastic is for their convenience, not any sign that it's safe ... unless it's in that (green?) plastic specially made for such things, which has a name somebody will remember. (Tho I suppose some suppliers may dilute the muriatic, but don't count on it.) I bought a gallon of muriatic in a nice heavy plastic container & set it under my stainless steel sink... used about half of it & let it sit... some time later (don't remember how long but with things like this, obviously, TIME FLIES!), noticed that the cover was eaten through, the metal all around was corroded, and it looked like if I blew on it the entire jar would collapse. I took it outside & blah blah blah, but I would NEVER again 1. buy a gallon, or that much more than I would use in a few months. 2. store it in plastic, unless "dedicated" plastic. 3. Spill a barrel of it in our hall over my darkroom as some contractors did many years ago. (My darkroom ceiling where it spilled through is still crumbling). Though the 5 firetrucks and the hazard sqad eclipsed the Saturday morning TV cartoons for entertainment on the block so it wasn't a total loss. Which is to say, IME, muriatic is dandy for being so cheap, but otherwise needs handling as HCL. Judy
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