Muriatic acid

[ripblade]

Dilute hydrochloric, I believe it is. Foul smelling stuff. I used a toilet bowl cleaner that contains dilute hydrochloric (along with surfactants and abrasives) and was very impressed at how quickly it removed the scale that had built up over time.

My problem is with trying to remove the buildup left behind by unsuccessful cleaning attempts with what I believe is a slot wand type cleaner (VPI, NG, etc). The sludge left behind by dirty wand gaskets, home brew cleaning solutions and incomplete suction/dirt removal becomes hard as a rock once the moisture evaporates. My own wet treatment doesn't touch it, but I've had success with repeated applications of white pva wood glue, though this is very time consuming. What remains is usually a fine crackle that spawned the cleaning attempts, but I much prefer this to the dull roar caused by the hard film left on the vinyl.

I wonder if anyone has tried cleaning their records with muriatic acid? Any worthwhile improvements? Any forseeable problems? I have to wonder about the chemistry involved, but this stuff is routinely flushed down the drains of plumbing systems made of ABS and PVC plastics, so how harmful can it be to the record vinyl?

Thoughts?

TYA,
Glenn

[Alec124c41]

HCl is toxic, and it will eat your hands.
Vinegar is safe, but slower.
Use distilled water to mix cleaning solutions, and to rinse with. It has no lime in it.

Cheers,
Aec

[pivot]

I have never seen the kind of "build up" as you decribe caused by a RCM. Somebody must have been using some strange fluids or proceedures or a machine truely out of wack.

Have you tried using nearly straight isopropyl with a MoFi or Disc Doctor brush set?

I have used muriatic acid to remove chrome/nickel plating on bolts/nuts/screws I wanted to antique finish. I always used it outdoors with eye protection and non-reactive gloves/gaunlets with running water near at hand. It will damage eyes, hands and the fumes will damage lungs.

There has to be better stuff to clean an LP.

[Steerpike_jhb]

More commonly known as hydrochloric acid I think; the staple chemical of swimming pool pH maintenance.
I used it to soak something, and stirred with one of those plastic perforated spoons for taking cooked food out of boiling oil. The acid turned the plastic's surface into a yellow powdery film. Yes, it was 43% HCl - the strongest you can make it. Much more dilute it should be realitively harmless, it is a major component of your own stomach secretions.

Why not test it on a record you don't care about ?

[Tedrick]

Sounds to me like hard-water deposits, which could result from using DIY cleaning fluid made with tap or well water (instead of distilled or deionized water). HCl will remove most hard-water deposits, but it's not real safe to handle unless you dilute it to a 5-10% solution. At that strength you can get it on your skin with no harm. When mixing down, always always remember to add acid to water.

[ripblade]

Thanks for the input, fellas. I will try it once I find a suitable candidate, and post back with the results.

[boris of tick fen]

I would be inclined to be wary of HCl, particularly if it's strong enough to smell when spills could be hazardous.
If dilute, I wouldn't expect it to have any advantage over water, other than removing limescale. Any greasy marks will not be touched by an aqueous liquid.

HCl will not leave a residue when evaporated though. Only good thing about it!

Best wishes

Boris

[ripblade]

Well, my one attempt to remove the scale with straight muriatic and a few drops of surfactant failed, but the laundry basin is now a brilliant white

I did however discover that in diluted form it is exceptionally well able to remove petrified fingerprints, much better than white vinegar and Tergitol, and even the enzyme based Sporicidin.

I diluted it to about 5-7% hcl with distilled water, adding a fairly high concentration of Tergitol blend (s3 and s9) to make a powerful cleaning solvent. Sprayed over the dusty record and allowed to soak for 5 mins, then rinsed off without scrubbing or steaming seems to boost the level of clean the subsequent stages produce. Undamaged records are now dead quiet even in the lead in grooves where most fingerprints are found.

This has become my new first step in the wash process. There doesn't seem to be any harm being done to the record, and the results are substantial enough to carry on with it.

[Eoin]

You're really cleaning your records with hydrochloric acid? Wow.

[ripblade]

To over simplify, yes. At the concentration I'm using it, it's perfectly safe.

If you could hear/see the results I get with it you might not be so skeptical about the idea.