11-04-20, 02:10 PM
a gallon of brick cleaner from the builders yard is a cheaper way to get hydrochloric acid. cement is strongly alkaline, so the acid cleans tools/bricks/slabs etc brilliantly. I used some to clean some badly cement grouted quarry tiles years ago, and where i accidently brushed against the old 15mm copper central heating pipes, they instantly looked as bright and shiny as new. I clean my trowel with it from time to time, but you have to straightaway not only wash the metal in water thoroughly, but also dry it and apply/wipe it over with wd40 or summat. if you dont, it actually rusts before your eyes in minutes. bizarre. if you clean a alu level with it you have to be even quicker, as it dissolves the aluminium. id clean the pipes with it occasionally taking the necessary steps afterwards, but i wouldnt make habit of it. Its kind of like ifyou t-cut paintwork...you gotta get good polish on it staight away or it will fade again very quickly because of the ammonia, hence ive only t cutted my van once in the five years ive had it, but i use a good polish (colour magic) every winter and lots of elbow grease to bring the original colour out