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Subject: Re: [Homebrew_PCBs] HCl - a cautionary tale!

From: Stefan Trethan <stefan_trethan@...>
Date: 2004-06-23

On Wed, 23 Jun 2004 12:34:14 -0000, leon_heller <leon_heller@...>
wrote:

> I was etching a PCB a few minutes ago. I thought I'd beef up the
> FeCl3 with a little HCl so I went in the other room, got the bottle
> and opened it. On my back to the kitchen sink where I was doing the
> etching I tripped, splashed a little of the HCl into my face (luckily
> the cap was still partly on) and dropped the bottle. A little of the
> acid went into my left eye so I put my head under the tap and flushed
> the eye out thoroughly. Of course, I shouldn't have removed the cap
> until I was at the sink. I suppose I ought to get the eye checked,
> but I can see perfectly out of it, although it's a little sore, so I
> won't bother. The effect was like peeling onions, but a ∗lot∗ worse.
> Onions generate H2SO4 when the juice gets into the eyes, same sort of
> effect.
>
> It's 30% HCl, BTW, quite concentrated.
>
> Leon
>


I will not ask where you goggles were.
I just assume they were absent just as your brain was.

Take care man!

ST