Hydrochloric acid, muriatic acid, spirits of salts

[pappaecho]

For descaling try sulpamic acid if you can get hold of it. It is an organic acid, and chelates many of the salts which cause a buildup on water cooling jackets etc. Used industrially for boiler cleaning including nuclear.
If there are lots of "rust" then citric acid is very good because it chelates iron oxide making iron citrate which is highly soluble and washes away.

If a dire emergency takes place, it can also be put in gin and tonic in place of lemon juice

 

[prv]

Magnesium tape......had completely forgotten that one! Why do I associate it with setting off fireworks remotely from big discarded telephone batteries

I associate it with setting off thermite mix. In particular a stainless steel kitchen bucket half full of the stuff after an incoming new science teacher found large stocks of the ingredients left by his predecessor and decided to dispose of the excess. One lucky class (us) got to troop up to a patch of waste ground near the playing field and watch the glowing fireball of molten metal eat the bucket.

We did something similar with excess sodium in a baby-bath in the car park as well.

Pete

 

[Chris_Robb]

Just ask for Aqua Fuerto - similar to the Spanish - I saw some today in Messolonghi in Carfour. There's was a 50% solution at 80 cents - in another supermarket I found some at 10% for 33 cents.

Sailing Legend - I will be in Messy Thursday - 6 am bus from Athens, So I will look out for you