Dangers of acid cleaners

[turbomangt]

Hydrofluoric acid is a corrosive acid used in wheel cleaners and aluminum brighteners for detail shops. What is does can make the filthiest set of chrome or wire wheels (caked with brake dust and rust) look brand new almost within seconds. However, many detailers aren't aware of the fact that if you get a slight amount on your skin, you can suffer great bone loss and possibly death. Distributors are selling these cleaner without educating the consumers about the proper way to use or handle them.

What HF can do to the human body is very scary. I'm no doctor or chemist so I'll try to describe what it does. HF is attracted to calcium and magnesium in the body and if any is exposed to the skin, it will penetrate the skin -- sometimes without and burning sensation -- seek out the calcium and turn the bones into jelly form. I've read a great many stories of detailers losing extremities days after contact -- some even dying. If someone breathes in the fumes they can suffer with pulmonary edema. People treat this chemical like a regular all-purpose cleaner and it's scary.This is the main reason I don't use acids. Gary

[bigdogdad]

I have used acid back in the days but those were a trip[8D]. The one you just mention sound as if they should be sold to professionals and only professionals if not outlawed all together. Bad news stuff.

[dicept1]

I have just purchased some Eagle One wheel acid and used it yesterday. I am always careful with acid, but did not know it was that scary. Thanks for the heads up! I will be extremely careful in the future. I like the stuff and it works well on my chromies. Also got the calipers cleaner than the day I bought it!

[ElectricBlueGT]

Gary,

I am a chemist. Yes, you are correct. Hydrofluoric acid (HF), ammonium fluoride, and ammonium bifluoride (used in Armor-All Wheel Cleaner the last time I looked) are BAD news for the common everyday user. Fluoride-releasing chemicals are dangerous. If you have a tingling sensation on your fingers, hands, or any area after using products that contain HF or fluoride-releasing chemicals, you have been exposed to the fluoride. Fluoride is attracted to calcium and will not stop penetrating until it comes into contact with calcium. If you need to use these products, obtain a tube of calcium gluconate cream (available at many pharmacies) to act as a neutralizer for the fluoride in case of exposure. The fluoride reacts with the calcium in the cream, not the calcium from your bones. The proper procedure for working with these cleaners is to wear rubber gloves, goggles, and clothing that covers as much skin as possible.

There are other acid cleaners that work just as well that contain oxalic acid or hydroxyacetic acid. Just remember, you can still get get acid burns from these products.

Personally, I think readily-available consumer products that use the above-mentioned fluoride ingredients should be outlawed or reformulated to not contain them.

Scott

[Goldenturtle02]

[:I] Thanks for the heads up. If we have some of these acids, is there a safe way to dispose of them? Stuff this harmfull, I'd hate to have around (I have enough medical problems!) I am glad I dont have kids! I cant see just throwing it out in the trash to be dumped in the land fill or can it be neutralized ?

[ElectricBlueGT]

Goldenturtle02,

Most areas now have "Hazardous Waste Disposal Days." I would take any substance (paint, car batteries, aggressive cleaners, etc.) to one of these collection sites. In my area, we have 2 days (one in the Spring and one in the Fall) for these kinds of disposal. There is no fee or a small, nominal fee to get rid of your carload of unwanted harmful items.

I do not suggest that the normal homeowner try to neutralize any of these cleaners. Since you do not know the entire formulation, you could make a bad situation even worse.

Scott

[bigdogdad]

Yeah, as ElectricBlueGT suggested, most likely all towns have a waste disposal day sometime during the year. Where I live its quarterly and I do use it. Here it is free, just pull up, pop the trunk open and they do the on loading. You have to do nothing. Paints, thinners, batteries, computers and so on. Everyone should look into this. Great idea and as long as this earth last, we are helping.