recipe for... success? disaster? ???


1- 55gal barrel
1- band type heating element for above
approx 20-30 gal water
48lbs ZEP Crystal Heat drain opener
one pair rubba gloves
some metal coat hangers
and a pile of old nasty car parts



Round one of this was about a week and a half ago, the results were not spectacular. Well, the gas cloud was. Attempt #2 is today, I plan on using more heat, and a stronger ratio chemical to water. Yall come visit me in the hospital if shit goes boom, k?

3/24/2009 8:30:37 AM

lol, this will end well.

pics nigga

3/24/2009 8:32:52 AM

Hot water and muriatic acid works great as well, but the parts will rust 10 minutes after if not inhibited.

[Edited on March 24, 2009 at 9:04 AM. Reason : Hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid...tomato, tomato.]

3/24/2009 8:55:47 AM

Why are you using Crystal Heat? Granted, one of the ingredients in hot tank cleaner is sodium hydroxide (or usually is), but there are a host of other ingredients that make it better. Gunk makes several that you can buy in powder form for hot tanks and spray cabinets. I'd be willing to bet that ZEP does too, as they make a shitload of stuff.

The MSDS from each one will give a breakdown on it.

3/24/2009 10:16:50 AM

We share a building with a guy who does truck cleaning. He has 55gal drums of all sorts of caustic stuff. If you want some good shit call Power Chem in Wendell. Say you know Bryan

3/24/2009 11:52:42 AM

too bad red devil lye got yanked, that shit was fuuuun. damn meth cooks ruined it.

check out resources people use for buying ingredients to make homemade soap/candles though, they use sodium hydroxide.

seems i remember lowes selling something called roebic that was 100% pure or close to it.

just be CAREFUL man when you mix it all up and make sure you're well protected. my grandfather had the shit blow back out of a sink drain on his hands one time and it ate down to the bone in some places.



[Edited on March 24, 2009 at 5:12 PM. Reason : .]

3/24/2009 5:01:37 PM

forgot to mention i can get the stuff for you too through the company under a brand we use, but it'd probably be just as cheap/cheaper if you can source it yourself wholesale/retail.

3/24/2009 5:33:13 PM

pool supply stores have NaOH in bulk, as well as muriatic acid, you need circulation though, and it needs to soak 4-6 hours or more


there are a lot of commercial cleaners out made just for this purpose


if you want to drive to TN, I have about 850,000 gallons of caustic at work in the tanks, and at least a half dozen rail cars at any given time

3/24/2009 7:05:53 PM

It worked about same as last time, which is dissapointing but whatever. Instead of continuing to mess with it I would rather just give up, this combination of hand sanding/paint-on stripper/caustic bath is tedious. Looks like whats left will be going to the sandblaster.

3/26/2009 7:21:24 AM

just use aircraft stripper

3/26/2009 7:27:56 AM

Quote :

"seems i remember lowes selling something called roebic that was 100% pure or close to it."

yeah, they DID...i can't find pure sodium hydroxide locally anymore, though

i buy from AAA chemicals: http://www.aaa-chemicals.com/

i was actually able to get 4lbs of lye shipped for the cost as 2lbs roebic after taxes bought locally about a year ago

3/26/2009 9:18:54 AM

use electrolysis!

3/26/2009 7:34:41 PM

I appear to have it working a bit better than before... it just takes 24-48hrs.

3/30/2009 7:48:39 AM

no shit, it takes at least overnight and it won't touch grease or oil

4/4/2009 7:25:46 PM

actually it loosens up grease and brake fluid quite well

4/4/2009 10:12:10 PM

it will work better if you use it in an enclosed space

4/5/2009 9:04:22 AM

I keep the lid on the barrel (not clamped on obviously) and that keeps a good bit of heat in. Although last night I apparantly unplugged the heater like a dumbass. Only a handful of parts left now...

4/5/2009 11:52:56 AM

lol

4/5/2009 12:14:17 PM