Phosporic acid is great because it eats rust at a much faster rate than it
eats
the good metal. It also leaves behind Iron Phosphate which is a low grade
rust inhibitor.
Hydrochloric acid eats both at approximately the same rate so you may not
end up
with a usable part!
Furthermore, Hydrochloric acid causes a process called hydrogen
embrittlement.
This makes the metal very prone to cracking and brittle fracture.
So, for 2 good reasons, don't use hydrochloric acid!!
Mike
----- Original Message -----
From: <Lancer7676@aol.com>
To: <byers@cconnect.net>; <healeys@autox.team.net>;
<spridgets@autox.team.net>
Sent: Sunday, 17 October 1999 23:02
Subject: Re: rust removal off small parts
> In a message dated 10/17/99 8:32:01 AM Eastern Daylight Time,
> byers@cconnect.net writes:
>
> << The standard metal prep solution (mostly phosphoric acid) that is
available
> from local auto parts stores >>
>
> I saw this stuff packaged as concrete cleaner/metal cleaner at Home Depot
for
> something like $13.95 a gallon. I checked the label, as most concrete
> cleaners are Hydrocholoric Acid (HCL). This one is Phosphoric Acid.
>
> Any listers who are interested, be absolutely sure you do NOT get HCL--it
> will flat eat the metal completely up--be sure the label says Phosphoric
> Acid!
>
> --David C.
>
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