Alternative to Muriatic acid?

I'm in the process of working on my garage including filling in some cracks running through the garage floor.

My plan is to use self leveling cement to fill in the cracks and make the floor level.

I'm looking for an alternative to muriatic acid to clean up the garage floor and provide a stronger bond between the garage floor and self leveling cement.

Any thoughts?

Steven

Reply to
BlinnPR
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BlinnPR wrote in news:61cb844e-44bd-4639-8c21- snipped-for-privacy@f42g2000yqn.googlegroups.com:

Muriatic acid is hydrochloric acid (HCl). It etches and cleans the cement you currently have. It is (or at least should be) easily rinsed off. Moreover, since HCl is a gas, it should really totally vanish when the floor is dry, aided easily with some ventilation. Doesn't your garage have a big door?

Reply to
Han

My first thought -- indeed, my only thought -- is to wonder why you are looking for an alternative to *the* accepted standard method of cleaning and etching concrete prior to repairing it.

Reply to
Doug Miller

Vinegar, maybe but it will not etch cement like muriatic.

Reply to
Frank

The acid is to etch the concrete. If the concrete is "dirty" with oil or paint, these will shield the concrete from the acid.

Clean the concrete first with a "cleaner" appropriate to the "dirt" and etch only if suggested by product you plan to use.

I use powdered laundry detergent (Tide) to remove oily dirt, paint remover or mechanical means for paint. I acid etch for epoxy paint.

The product (or mfr of the product) you plan to use for leveling will provide (or should) prep instructions.

cheers Bob

Reply to
DD_BobK

Sulfuric? Nitric? If you happen to have particles of gold embedded in the floor and you want to remove them, use aqua regia (hydrochloric + nitric).

What's wrong with the hydrochloric (muriatic)?

Reply to
dadiOH

Why not use muratuc acid? What's your issue with it? Clean it first with a strong laundry detergent.

Reply to
jamesgangnc

If you have a clean concrete there are bonding agents that can be added to concrete to aid in bonding to a previous surface. May or may not be appropriate for the self leveling cement you want to use.

Ask the self leveling cement manufacturer for suggestions?

Reply to
bud--

Yes, phosphoric acid is also used to etch concrete.

Hank

Reply to
Hustlin' Hank

"Hustlin' Hank" wrote in news:c8391a64-b33b-443a-a75b- snipped-for-privacy@g17g2000yqe.googlegroups.com:

But phosphoric acid isn't volatile, while muriatic acid is, so cleanup is more difficult with phosphoric acid.

Reply to
Han

My response was off the top of my head, but op could have simply googled and found such as this:

Reply to
Frank

Not very effective though. Years ago I stripped all the grease off the floor of the garage I worked in using the acid out of scrapped batteries -it fumed like crazy - but the concrete came out perfectly clean.

Reply to
clare

Have you forgotten all the Murians who were killed to make it?

Reply to
mm

b-

Maybe you should check out the link below. You may want to re-evaluate your position on Phosphoric acid.

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Hank

Reply to
Hustlin' Hank

They were a dying race anyway, they all had such acidic personalities :)

Reply to
dadiOH

"Hustlin' Hank" wrote in news: snipped-for-privacy@q22g2000yqm.googlegroups.com:

Thanks! That helped the phosphoric acid cause.

Reply to
Han

I've used both. Phosphoric works, but not nearly as agressive as hydrochloric or sulfuric. And the cleanup us more work. Mabee the Phosphoric I used wasn't as strong as the hydrochloric and sulphuric were. The big advantage to the sulphuric is the acid was free and we needed to get rid of it one way or other anyway. A big pile of batteries that needed to be shipped to the lead smelter netted in excess of 10 gallons of pretty strong acid.

The advantage of hydrochloric (muriatic) is it is available from any pool supply or hardware stoor.

Phosphoric hardly fizzes at all on normal concrete, while Hydrochloric and sulphuric really "get up a head of steam".

The phosphoric is definitely SAFER.

Reply to
clare

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I have a few gallons of a non-hazmat very safe alternative product to etch concrete that I will sell for a good price. The supplier is no longer in business so the etching product is on clearance. email me snipped-for-privacy@pauloman.com

paul oman

Reply to
Paul Oman

Not if it's coming out of lead acid batteries. I wonder how much lead you put into the ground, or did you contain all the liquid and take it to a hazardous waste site?

Reply to
Tony

There is no cheap easy to get alternative, but Muriatic fumes, you should have a fan pulling the fumes out and get a Vapor certified Respirator, about 25$ at any hardware store. Muriatic fumes and is hard on lungs.

Reply to
ransley

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