On Sun, 13 Jun 2010 19:35:34 -0000, you wrote:
>Donald,
>Please see my responses below...
>
>> Most any hardware store should carry it. Big box stores need to deal in large volumes to keep the margins up -- try a local hardware.
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>I called an old hardware store (now an Ace Hardware) in my area and they told me they carry muriatic acid in one quart containers! Thanks.
>
>> I'm not sure what you want the NaOH for. You can use that to neutralise FeCl when you want to dispose of it, but for CuCl, all you need is H2O2 (hydrogen peroxide) from the druggist (3%) or beauty supply (12%) is better.
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>The muriatic acid/H2O2 solution is used for etching, is it not?
>If you can "re-charge" the etching solution by adding H2O2 whenever you get ready to etch a board (I think someone else said this), I guess you may not need the NaOH (Drano) to neutralize the solution for a while.
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>Of course, that raises the question, when should I be disposing of my etching solution? How do I know it is "spent" and is no longer useful?
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>For storage, I believe a glass bottle is best (taking great care in protecting the metal cap).
>
>Unless things change, it looks like I'm going to be using muriatic acid/H2O2 as an etching solution. Although, the 1:1 ratio stated by Mark seems a bit strong. I have to check on this....
Quite strong. I use 30% Muriatic acid, and the 3% H2O2 mixed in a
ratio of one part acid to four parts H2O2.
It will die after about 4 weeks, be weak after 2. Adding H2O2 will
help, so will bubbling air through it. After a bit of use it converts
to CuCl etchant, which always needs air bubbled through it, but lasts
virtually forever.
I like glass bottles, but not with metal caps. Plastic food
containers work well, though.
Harvey
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