Oxalic Acid

Russ Johnson

Equipment Expert
Hi, all. I have tried to help as many as possible on here with equipment questions. Now it's my turn for a little assistance. I have begun selling Oxalic Acid and am packaging it in 5 lb. tubs. I'm trying to create a label for the product. I need useage instructions. How much powder per gallon? Dwell time? Precautions? I have the hazards from the MSDS, but I need practical, in the field experiences to make sure it's used properly. Any help would be greatly appreciated. I will also be selling 55 lb bags, which, when I'm up to speed on this, I will post in the correct forum. Thanks.
 
I use my oxalic at 8oz per gallon mixed with warm water. When I apply it to wood I generally downstream it and dont wash it off. You can see the neutrailization process happen before your eyes. I always wear a resperator because the fumes really irratate my lungs. I have also heard it can make you sterile.
For concrete brighting I have found oxalic to weak so I use HF.
Hope some of this helps.
 
Thanks, Richard, that gives me a jumping off point. Any idea at what ratio you are injecting? I would like to know on-the-surface dilution for those with pump sprayers. And, the doctor made me sterile years ago. I agree with you about the HF. Lots of people are scared of it, but if handled and used properly, not much can beat it.
 
For concrete I use 2 cups per gallon, but if I really want to rock and roll------use HF.
 
Russ I run my oxalic thru a 20% injector so that would be about a 4 to 1 ratio on my machine and it works just fine (on wood).
I say I rinse generally but that is because it has rained hard after every deck job this season. If it didnt rain I would rinse well after applying.
 
Hydrofluoric Acid. Stick to oxalic if you don't know what you are doing. HF is one of the most toxic/poisonous substances on earth.
 
Hey Russ, I haven't used oxalic much other than a privacy fence cleaning I did a few years back. For some reason I thought that it had the same affect on glass as HF but now I can't find any info confirming that. Would you happen to remember?
 
What's the price in the oxalic acid also are you able to get the precarb wood cleaner?
 
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Russ is the sodium per carbonate full strength? like what I would get from a soap making store.

We are a soap making store...so yes.

Russ what do you have for iron stains?

Oxalic, HF aluminum brightener, and we're working with a raw material supplier on a new product. I have to test it myself first.
 
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