Sciencemadness Discussion Board

HCL in California?

Orsyn - 25-2-2015 at 13:21

Is anyone else having trouble finding HCl in CA? I see lots of H2SO4 and NaOH, but the HCl drain cleaner is strangely missing from all of my usual haunts. It's kinda creeping me out, although I'd have a hard time imagining anyone with half-a-brain thinking banning it would be a good idea, but we all know how that goes (I really miss easy toluene :( )

Anyone else noticing this?

[Edited on 25-2-2015 by Orsyn]

Texium - 25-2-2015 at 13:35

I don't know about HCl drain cleaner, but did you look in the pool section, or at a dedicated pool store? It's commonly sold by the gallon for pool cleaning here, and should be in CA also.

Orsyn - 25-2-2015 at 13:46

Quote: Originally posted by zts16  
I don't know about HCl drain cleaner, but did you look in the pool section, or at a dedicated pool store? It's commonly sold by the gallon for pool cleaning here, and should be in CA also.


I haven't checked the pool section, I'll do that though thanks for the suggestion. Not many swimming pools around here but that's a good idea..

edit: Ok I checked online and the big orange store has muriatic in their pool section, supposedly. I haven't ever looked for it as anything but drain cleaner..

Thanks again!

[Edited on 25-2-2015 by Orsyn]

Zombie - 25-2-2015 at 14:19

It is also sold as "Brick Wash" or "Masonary Cleaner"at most hardware stores.

About 4 bucks a gallon

DistractionGrating - 25-2-2015 at 16:28

I'm in California. I get it from my pool supply store.

Bot0nist - 25-2-2015 at 16:41

It's much to volatile and it's fumes too corrosive to be used as drain opener. I've only seen hydroxide, sulfuric acid, and hypochlorite drain openers. Muriatic acid is sold by most big home improvement stores. Check on lawn and garden, or the pool supplies.

Orsyn - 25-2-2015 at 17:57

Lawn & Garden? What's it used for there??

gdflp - 25-2-2015 at 18:06

I believe it's used to dissolve rust stains on concrete and similar surfaces. And it isn't used in drain opener, but it is used in toilet cleaner, that blue goop you spray in there is 10% hydrochloric acid mixed with various enzymes.

Magpie - 25-2-2015 at 18:37

Check Ace Hardware.

violet sin - 25-2-2015 at 19:08

it is used to fight ghosting of tile by a fresh grout job not getting cleaned up all the way. if you have ever laid tile, ghosting can be a major problem. I have seen some that is claimed to be skin safe, it's not the normal kind, beware. additives, cap some portion of skin/meat somehow, so the acid doesn't eat ya. it is also used as a concrete and brick etchant prior to other products application. it is also deff sold in pool supply places.

I'm in cali as well. mendo(cino) area, and chico area. its EVERY WHERE. if you hit up wally world, they have cheap sodium bromide in the pool section(2oz bags for like 3$) and boric acid( 4$) in the pesticides area. not to mention HEET radiator additive/flush that is methanol

MrHomeScientist - 26-2-2015 at 06:56

HCl seems like a bad idea for cleaning drains, unless you like rusty fixtures! Pool supply store muriatic acid is the easiest way to go. I also get it from the hardware store, where it's sold as a concrete etchant.

Praxichys - 26-2-2015 at 09:59

In my experience, tile haze cleaner is usually sulfamic acid.

In my Home Depot, they sell gallons of 31% for $6 in the paint department. It is used to etch concrete prior to applying epoxy paint.

violet sin - 26-2-2015 at 21:04

it can be. sulfamic acid is suggested as a fume free, splash proof( in storage) alternative to hydrochloric and sulfuric, both could be and have been used in the past( by others). we actually used something really pricey with citric acid and oxalic acid IIRC, after the hydrochloric proved useless on the specific stone we used. I know CLR household product( calcium, lime scale, rust) had lactic acid in it last time I checked, and it works some times.

Hawkguy - 26-2-2015 at 21:28

Walk into a hardware store, and look for a large bottle in a bag. Its usually Sulfuric, Phosphoric, or Hydrochloric Acid. Hydrochloric is usually the only one with a labelled concentration.

violet sin - 27-2-2015 at 00:09

I have never seen HCl in a jug in a bag. in the pool supply area, it is in one box with two one gallon jugs most often or a single gallon jug by itself in the paint section for concrete etching. never seen phosphoric acid in a bag, only sulfuric acid. the only one I haven't seen with a percentage was the phosphoric, but that was in the form of ospho rust treatment.

xfusion44 - 27-2-2015 at 14:08

@orsyn

Do you have Walmart nearby?

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Amrep-R92512CT-Bolex-26-Percent-Hy...