Phosphoric acid ok pickle for copper and brass?

[David TaylorParticipant @davidtaylor63402]

[David TaylorParticipant @davidtaylor63402]

Hi,

I was using phosphoric acid as a pickle for silver soldered steel parts and also to get the mill scale off laser and water jet cut parts. It works really well.

So I have been using it to clean up the inlet and exhaust plumbing for my loco during construction and it seems to clean them up well but I am wondering if anyone knows whether it will harm these metals?

I could get another plastic garbage bin and fill it with citric acid but if I can just use one thing it's easier.

Regards, David.

[Thor 🇳🇴Participant @thor]

Hi David,

Phosphoric acid is used in socalled "rust removers" on steel so if you find it works as a pickle, why not use it. I use citric acid for pickling and then dip the work in a sodium hydrogen carbonate solution to neutralize the acid before rinsing in water.

Thor

[mickParticipant @mick65121]

Tesco lime scale remover is brilliant, just rinse it off in warm water.

[the artfull-codgerParticipant @theartfull-codger]

It's quite cheap on ebay, I got a gallon for rust removal & find it as good as jelonite & a lot cheaper, I had some sheets of copper stored in the workshop & where they were on the damp floor it turned green so far up the sheets so I tried phosphoric acid with a scotchbright & it came up a treat,[didn't seem to harm the copper] so I use it for cleaning brass as well. No doubt someone with more knowledge will let us know if it has any undesireable effects..

[roy entwistleParticipant @royentwistle24699]

Am I right in thinking that phosphoric acid will eat through glass ? Or am I thinking of some other ?

Roy

[the artfull-codgerParticipant @theartfull-codger]

Posted by roy entwistle on 21/02/2017 19:37:04:

Am I right in thinking that phosphoric acid will eat through glass ? Or am I thinking of some other ?

Roy

Your thinking of hydrofluoric acid roy, we used it in the embossing dept to decorate glass for old fashioned pub windows along with brilliant cutting & sand blasting,some beautifull designs were made with it.

[roy entwistleParticipant @royentwistle24699]

Artfull-codger Thanks, blame ano domini I know it was something nasty

Roy

Edited By roy entwistle on 22/02/2017 14:03:09

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