Brick acid

[Welderpaul]

Looks to be another product that isn't as widely available as it was, and seems to have changed its name to brick and patio cleaner..I suspect useless.

Any brands that still work?

 

[dieselsamurai]

Ive bought this before and it did the job

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Bond-Strength-Cement-Remover-Cleaner/dp/B09Q25JYK9

 

[Ross365]

I've always thought the term "brick acid" refers to hydrochloric acid, and that's what the Amazon stuff is. It gives off strong fumes and needs care when using it.

 

[Ruffian]

Still available from farm supply stores as chlorinated cleaner for dairy industry.

Something like duosan red label would be a suggestion.

For example

Deosan Hypochlorite Red Label

All purpose hypochlorite disinfectant for general farm use.

www.moleavon.co.uk

 

[Tom O]

I thought it was muratic acid

 

[Agroshield]

Still available from farm supply stores as chlorinated cleaner for dairy industry.

The one to which you link is bleach, not acid. It is not a suitable substitute for brick cleaner, which has been correctly identified as hydrochloric (muriatic) acid.

 

[timgunn1962]

There seems to have been a reduction in the allowable concentration of Hydrochloric Acid that can be sold to the general public. Possibly as part of the response to some headline-grabbing acid attacks a few years back.

I really CBA looking up the legislation, but it seems like between the law and voluntary agreements, there's probably a maximum of around 10% Hydrochloric widely available now, where a few years ago, a concentration of 36% was readily available to all. The recommendation with the stronger stuff was usually to dilute it at least 2:1 for use as a brick cleaner IIRC.

Higher concentrations can still be sold to "professional" users, but there seem go be some pretty stringent paperwork and recordkeeping requirements for sellers, including checks on the professional status of the buyer.

In effect for most of us, this should just mean that neat, the current stuff will still work just like the old stuff did when diluted 2:1 with water.

Check the SDS for whatever product you are considering. It should show Hydrochloric Acid 10%-30%.

 

[Welderpaul]

There seems to have been a reduction in the allowable concentration of Hydrochloric Acid that can be sold to the general public. Possibly as part of the response to some headline-grabbing acid attacks a few years back.

I really CBA looking up the legislation, but it seems like between the law and voluntary agreements, there's probably a maximum of around 10% Hydrochloric widely available now, where a few years ago, a concentration of 36% was readily available to all. The recommendation with the stronger stuff was usually to dilute it at least 2:1 for use as a brick cleaner IIRC.

Higher concentrations can still be sold to "professional" users, but there seem go be some pretty stringent paperwork and recordkeeping requirements for sellers, including checks on the professional status of the buyer.

In effect for most of us, this should just mean that neat, the current stuff will still work just like the old stuff did when diluted 2:1 with water.

Check the SDS for whatever product you are considering. It should show Hydrochloric Acid 10%-30%.

The Siki one just says 'active content', which I assume to be Hydrochloric acid, - 9 - 9.9%

The Bond It one above says =10/ not exceeding 30%

 

[rtcosic]

I thought it was muratic acid

Wow, that takes me back! That nomenclature was labeled as archaic when I was doing O-level chemistry in 1968.

There seems to have been a reduction in the allowable concentration of Hydrochloric Acid that can be sold to the general public.

There has been a radical reduction in the availability of useful compounds to the general public. One could get all sorts of useful stuff from a high street chemist in my youth. I don't know how many lives and limbs this has saved over the years, but given the large and increasing numpty proportions of the population, probably many. But maybe not the ones that needed saving!

 

[tigdlo]

There has been a few threads on regulated substances since the rules changed.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/supplying-explosives-precursors/list-of-chemicals

Regulated explosives precursors​

Substance	CAS RN number
ammonium nitrate: 16% N	(CAS RN 6484-52-2)
hexamine	(CAS RN 100-97-0)
hydrochloric acid: 10% w/w	(CAS RN 7647-01-0)

Brick and mortar cleaner from Toolstation used to be up to 20%, the patio cleaner was up to 10% which was the only one available last time I checked.

 

[Jelly_Sheffield]

Looks to be another product that isn't as widely available as it was, and seems to have changed its name to brick and patio cleaner..I suspect useless.

Any brands that still work?

It's still just HCl solution, and whilst the concentration has reduced to 10%, that's still pretty aggressive for a descaling application.

there's probably a maximum of around 10% Hydrochloric widely available now, where a few years ago, a concentration of 36% was readily available to all. The recommendation with the stronger stuff was usually to dilute it at least 2:1 for use as a brick cleaner IIRC.

It's probably for the best that 36% is no longer widely available, hideous stuff to handle with the high vapour pressure and reduced boiling point.

I'm not saying members of the public can't handle it safely, but I know enough chemists and process operators who have come a cropper despite having (purportedly) greater awareness that it would certainly give me pause for thought!

More generally manufacturers and retailers have become very mindful of the "reputational risk" associated with products that could be used in "acid attacks".

I was still in the UK haz-waste industry when the first spare of them happened, and there were several recalls and stock disposals of 96% Sulphuric Acid based drain cleaner products.

We took in something like 500 tonnes of the stuff in retail packs in then end... Good jobs those were too, as once it was depackaged (not a nice job, with lads in chem-suits and masks pouring out 1L bottles for a full 8hr shift) we were able to react it off with waste from another customer, and after a little cleanup step, recycle it as ammonium sulphate fertiliser, taking at both ends.

I thought it was muratic acid

Wow, that takes me back! That nomenclature was labeled as archaic when I was doing O-level chemistry in 1968.

It's still widely used in the building products industry, and a couple of other sectors for some reason.

 

[dave h 2]

I thought it was muratic acid

It is on your side of the pond.

 

[marlinspike]

Would brick acid clean paint stains from house bricks? Our house is part rendered and the previous owner painted the render which then got rained on. Result is the paint has 'run' onto the brickwork below. It's not paint exactly now but paint staining if you see what I mean. Did try a brick cleaner product but didn't work. Pressure washing crumbles the bricks.

 

[brightspark]

try some decent paint stripper on a bit and a scrubbing brush. also try putting some celly thinners on it and use a wire brush . both work

 

[Ed.]

Try getting a bottle from a pool supply store, they used to sell it to change the pH of the water in swimming pools, also concrete supply stores (the type that supply concreters and bricklayers with tools).

 

[not done it yet]

HCl is a gas. When dissolved in water is hydrochloric acid. 36% HCl would be termed as ‘fuming’. The highest concentration available at room temperature.

 

[Keithmac]

We have to sign a disclaimer as a business before being allowed to order batteries with individual filling packs now.

Most batteries come pre-filled.

I think it's escaped the pen pushers anyone could buy a wet lead acid battery with removable caps and just drain the acid back out..