Need some help plz

[wildman1983]

Alright I used a oil base flux I can't get it clean. So I want to try the muriatic acid mixed with water. I had someone on here said something about it.i have some and want to put it inside my still. Can some one tell me how much to mix with water and how long to soak.plz someone help me I have ran all my cleaning runs. Soaked in orange juice. Nothing has worked. And have used so much propane I have lost more money over this. Just want to start making something drankable.

[LWTCS]

4 to 1 ratio is fine,,,along with gloves and saftey glasses.

[CuWhistle]

Remember to add acid to water. NOT water to acid!!!!!

Doing it the wrong way around can cause a violent reaction spraying acid all over you if it is a concentrated acid.

[wildman1983]

How long should I soak the copper in the 4 to 1 ratio

[CuWhistle]

Can't really say. It will be a trial and test arrangement for you until your happy with it. Drop it in and leave for a little while. Take it out and rinse it then examine it to see if your happy. If not then do it again.

It is impossible to give information from you just saying a 4 to 1 ratio, since we don't know the purity (molarity) of you undiluted acid. Strong acids can work pretty quickly through copper though so don't leave it too long.

[RonH3154]

You need to look at the concentration of the muratic acid you buy to determine how much dilution water is added. I did a spot check on the Lowe's website and they have it at ~15% and ~31%. I would not go above a 10% solution and you might want to start weaker than that.

REMEMBER SAFETY 1) GOGGLES, 2) GLOVES, 3) LONG SLEEVES, LONG PANTS, & SHOES 4) SLOWLY ADD ACID TO FULL VOLUME OF WATER

[thatguy1]

When HCl (hydrochloric acid, also known as muriatic acid) is added to copper, the copper forms a protective layer against HCl which prevents attack against the copper metal. I wouldn't worry too much about the concentration of HCl eating the copper, but keeping it around 10% is a good idea for safety reasons. Whatever you do, don't use nitric acid though. Nitric is the only acid available to households that can eat copper.. and it will, violently! Muriatic acid from hardware stores should not contain any nitric acid, but it's always best to check the MSDS sheets on google before using any chemicals.

Most muriatic acid that I have encountered is about 30-35% concentration. In order to dilute, fill a jar or bottle with water and then SLOWLY add the acid to the jar of water. Do not inhale any fumes if they rise. Depending on the speed that you add the acid to the water, the mixture could heat up so add slowly. Never add water to the acid unless you want it to instantly go from 21c to 100c in a matter of seconds and burn you, tossing fumes everywhere as well as well as deadly chlorine gas. I'd also use a respirator like a 3M one rated for chlorine gas, splash goggles, and have a bucket of cold water around along with a box of baking soda to wash anything if you have a spill. You pour the baking soda directly on the acid spill. Safety first!

This may all sound like overkill, but one day something will happen when working with vile chemicals, and you will be happy you took the time to be safe. You will lose your vision if you splash HCl in your eyes. Imagine not being able to see and trying to get help... not fun.

If you get HCl on your skin like your fingers, it's not as bad if you wash it off right away. But still wear gloves! I've got 34.1% HCl on my fingers and it feels oily.. it starts to sting about 5-10 seconds after contact on skin but if you wash with cold water immediately you're fine. Still, don't get it on your skin in the first place!

[Schmicter]

An oil based flux should be soluble in a solvent like acetone. I would try soaking in an oil based solvent before messing around with acid. Besides if the flux is truly oil based in will not become soluble in a water mixture with acid anyway.

[thatguy1]

An oil based flux should be soluble in a solvent like acetone. I would try soaking in an oil based solvent before messing around with acid. Besides if the flux is truly oil based in will not become soluble in a water mixture with acid anyway.

Yes, but won't acetone chemically attack the copper even if it's weak reaction? Not sure of this one that's why i didn't recommend acetone.

[Schmicter]

Actually fluxes are either acid/water based which would clean out with steam/vinegar or rosin based which is recommended to clean out with isopropanol, or any alcohol. So I would think a sacrificial run of ethanol would clean out a rosin based flux whereas a vinegar run being water based would not.

[wildman1983]

It says its potroleum based flux.

[wildman1983]

I have done a vinger run and 6 Alchol runs also and soaked in orange juice.

[wildman1983]

Well I put the muriatic acid in there I can see oil floating in pipe at the top. Thinking about washing that out and adding more to see if I see oil floating. What y'all think.

[thatguy1]

One thing, you're going to want to make sure you wash that acid out when you're done with lots and lots of warm water. HCl is soluble in water so as long as you wash with enough water, you should be good. I'd go the extra step and wash it with a baking soda and water mix to neutralize any acids you didn't get with the water.

[LWTCS]

+1 thatguy

[wildman1983]

Has anyone else ever used it for a oil based flux .to get the oil out if so did it work.

[Prairiepiss]

I use muratic acid to clean my builds. Before I do normal cleaning runs. You don't want to leave it in it to long. Or it will have the opposite reaction. I make a mix of 4 gal water to 1 gallon of acid. I soak for 10 to 15 min. Then rinse really really well with water.

[wildman1983]

I left it in there for 3 hours and now doing a steam run with water and still getting. Oil dam I don't know what to do.

[LWTCS]

What diameter? Can you put a cylinder hone on it?

[Dnderhead]

"Can you put a cylinder hone on it?"
a flap wheel?

[wildman1983]

Guys don't worry about it I broke the still down.went way over board on flux and solder . I am going to sand all joints get solder off and get a water base flux. Thanks for all the help .