| Re: Liquid Wrench
Størker Moe wrote:
> Yup, ammonia is a base. For the more extreme cases, a solution of
> caustic (AKA sodium hydroxide) literally removes the seatpost. The base
> dissolves aluminum forming sodium aluminum hydroxide and hydrogen gas.
> Takes some time with thick-walled seatposts, but it works. I tried it
> once after using up two hacksaw blades and still not having gone through
> the post.
>
> Don't try this at home, kids, and read the MSDS.
Is sodium hydroxide any worse than potassium hydroxide? I have had skin
contact with potassium hydroxide many times and as long as it was washed
off right away, it was not big deal.
Sodium hydroxide is inexpensive - I can buy a bottle of drain cleaner
crystals [1] for a couple of dollars at the grocery store.
[1] It says "100% sodium hydroxide", but I doubt it is reagent purity.
--
Tom Sherman - Earth
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