[SEL] Removing calcification & scale

[Peter Scales]

Muriatic acid and Hydrochloric acid are one and the same thing.  Often sold
as "brick acid" for cleaning brickwork.  I'd be tempted to use it dilute, at
about 10%.  It should do a good job of eating limescale, but will do a good
job of eating cast  iron too if given time, so rinsing with baking soda or
washing soda is definitely a good idea.  It does a good job of eating flesh
as well, at the higher concentrations.

"Always do what you oughter, add acid to water" when diluting.  If you do
get any on yourself, baking or washing soda will neutralise, followed by a
rinse in copious water.

Vinegar will do the job, but more slowly.  Proprietary kettle descalers will
also work - they are often formulated from sulfonamic acid or formic acid if
you find either of those easier to come by.  They're closer to vinegar than
to hydrochloric acid.

To prevent future scaling up, try using rainwater as coolant.  It's as close
to distilled water as you can get for free.

Regards

     Pete
-- 
Peter Scales  

> -----Original Message-----
> From: sel-bounces at lists.stationary-engine.com 
> [mailto:sel-bounces at lists.stationary-engine.com] On Behalf Of 
> Rupert Wenig
> Sent: 05 August 2006 16:09
> To: The SEL email discussion list
> Subject: Re: [SEL] Removing calcification & scale
> 
> Hello Jerry,
> 	Of the safer acids to use, boiling in vinegar should 
> work as you say 
> but it will take awhile. Next, muriatic acid should take out 
> the scale. 
> Next is the more dangerous acid to use- hydrochloric acid. I 
> assume you 
> know how to handle acids safely. Rinse thoroughly with baking soda in 
> the final cleaning step to neutralize any left over acid.
> 
> 	On the other hand- if there happen to be any live steam 
> hobbyists or 
> for that matter any full size live steam operators in your area. They 
> should know how to remove the scale and should have a 
> treatment to help 
> prevent further scaling.
> 
> Rupert
> 
> Jerry Evans wrote:
> > Hi All you experts,
> >         The cylinder head water jacket of the Wolseley "R" 
> I'm working 
> > on has a pretty thick layer of scale in it and the only access is 
> > through the 1 1/2" outlet pipe hole and the water slots 
> below the head.
> > 
> >         Is there an acid or something that I can soak it in 
> to remove 
> > this that will not do damage to the cast iron? Try not to 
> mention "trade 
> > names" as proprietary products available in your part of 
> the world may 
> > not necessarily be available here.
> > 
> >         What other ideas are there for doing this - I could 
> probably 
> > boil it in vinegar for some time as I know that this cleans 
> the scale 
> > out of kettles, taps (faucets) and shower roses but do not know how 
> > effective it would be on 60 odd years of scale build up in a water 
> > jacket. The engine comes from a part of South Africa that 
> has what we 
> > call "brack" or "hard" water - this is water that has a lot 
> of minerals 
> > and salts in it and builds up a layer of this scale in 
> anything carrying 
> > the water (pipes and the like).
> > 
> >         I look forward to your answers.
> > 
> > Keep the revs up (or down)
> > Jerry Evans
> > Near Johannesburg in Sunny South Africa.
> > Tel. (016) 365-5787
> > Visit our website for old engines in South Africa.
> > www.oldengine.org/members/evans 
> > ---
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> > 
> 
> -- 
> --
> yvt
> 
> Rupert Wenig
> Camrose, Alberta, Canada.	
> 		
> http://www3.telus.net/public/rwenig/
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