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As any fan of Terry Pratchett knows, both scumble and Granny Aching’s special sheep lineament have a well earned reputation for dissolving any metal that they come into contact with. I’m just wondering, was this entirely an invention of Pratchett just to make it even more dangerous and impressive? Or is it possible for some combination of poor cuts and poor metallurgy to ever have had such an effect? Say for example a pewter spoon and foreshots.

Yes, I realize this is fiction. But it made me wonder if anything like it was ever a real thing.

Steve Broady wrote: ↑Sun Oct 30, 2022 4:21 pm Or is it possible for some combination of poor cuts and poor metallurgy to ever have had such an effect?

Well, any and all cuts tend to come out of a still made with metal parts, so......

According to Nanny Ogg, she had to keep replacing the copper in her still because “You know how it eats the metal.”

Speaking of which, I’d love to get my hands on a bottle of her suicider.

I read that one, NormandieStill. Part of what got me thinking about scumble again. That, and the fact that I’m currently reading Maskerade. I have a hunch that the reaction with metal is pure fantasy, but it sounds just close enough to some real reactions or superstitions that it made me wonder, could there be a tiny grain of truth in this?

Highly acidic substances will eat their way through some metals. Aluminium is particularly problematic which is why it's not recommended for boilers here.

But I don't think the cuts would make much difference. It's easy to imagine that we're taking out caste amounts of dodgy stuff during a fores cut for example, but the concentrations are still relatively low. It's just that we're also very sensitive to some of this chemicals. My fores don't do an amazing job of removing label glue from bottles for example, compared to the bottle of acetone i keep for the purpose.

I must get some acetone for removing label glue.
Some glues are particularly stubborn.

Geoff

I’ve tried acetone with less than stellar results. Paint thinner (petroleum distillates) has always been my go-to for removing label glue and other stubborn stickers.

Steve Broady wrote: ↑Mon Oct 31, 2022 12:21 am I’ve tried acetone with less than stellar results. Paint thinner (petroleum distillates) has always been my go-to for removing label glue and other stubborn stickers.

Thanks, Steve. I will try that too.

Geoff

This is what you want Geoff ....it beats all else in my opinion.......can get it at Bunnings ....comes in a can like this or you can buy it in a tin then fill your own squirty bottle.
In my old line of work I spent a lot of time removing labels ,stickers, other such things ......This stuff was my go to ,what it and a green scourer wont get off isn't worth knowing about.

I've got gallons of foreshots that work well as a solvent. Best label glue remover I've used is this: fill the bottle with hot-ass water and dunk it into a sink/bucket of hot-ass water. Use a razor or some blade to scrape as much label off as possible once the water soaks in. Follow up with a stainless scrubbie to get the remnants (scrubbie works great). Polish/finish with fores and a flour sack cloth...

-j

I distinctly remember the distiller at Edradour talking about having to make repairs on their still as time passed by, and that none of it was actually original. But that's a still that has been producing for 200 years, with hot wash in it almost constantly, not a spoon dipped in. It was also a distillery tour, so not necessarily factual.

If this lineament was mostly nitric acid it could certainly dissolve a steel spoon in short order

Ben wrote: ↑Mon Oct 31, 2022 7:48 am If this lineament was mostly nitric acid it could certainly dissolve a steel spoon in short order

I know the Nac Mac Feegle are tough, but drinking mostly nitric acid sounds like a bit ouch even for them! Granny Aching’s Special Sheep Linament was said to be unsuitable for women, as it put hair on your chest. I’ve always wondered what was in that..

The Chalk in Discworld is strongly influenced by Wiltshire. I don’t know enough about the UK to know what sort of distilled spirits were traditionally made in that area. Can anyone comment? My first guess would be gin, which would fit well with the idea of an old lady who has a wealth of herbal lore making a product which she labeled “linament.”