[sdiy] Hydrofloric Acid ***WARNING***

[Paul Perry]

At 04:58 PM 4/03/01 -0500, Matti wrote:
>I'm not sure where exactly one might buy some HFl, 
...this is fortunate!

>that you'd want to work with....get too much of it in your body (ie on
>your skin), the Fl will bind with the calcium in your heart, kill you.
...actually it's kind of WORSE than this.
If it gets on your skin, it causes ulceration and necrosis which will NOT 
heal. I dont advise breathing it either. BAD stuff.

>HCl works just fine for etching glass, I believe. 'Muriatic Acid' at your
>lcal hardware store.
...that is just plain WRONG. The fact that it comes in glass bottles is a 
hint.
>
Is there a safe way to etch glass?
Yes, sandblasting thru a screen. Use a mask.
i suspet that it shd be possible to etch without HFl, but I dont 
personally know how.

paul perry melourne australia