Oxyalic acid formula

[mad_boater]

Does any one know a formula I can make up using oxyalic acid crystals similar to starbrite hull cleaner.I read a while ago that someone on the forum had successfully made a mix up including wall paper paste and car wash in the ingrediants. Has any one had any luck making their own cleaner,the £25 for 5lts of starbrite although effective seems very expensive considering a 25 kg bag costs around £50

 

[asteven221]

I don't know about making your own concoction but a product called Wipe Out (bright yellow plastic container) is really good which is a white powder containing Oxyalic acid. It's one of the few things that actually works.

 

[stuartw]

Yes it is very easy if you have some crystals. Basically you have to make a saturated solution by dissolving as much as it will take in a given volume of water. So take 1/4 litre of warm water, add the crysrals spoonfull by spoonfull, keep stirring, until you have some at the bottom of the jar which will not dissolve. When you use some of the solution, you can add some more water to dissolve the remaining crystals. And really just keep topping up with water and Oxalic acid.
Don't foorget to rinse well after the colour is restored.

 

[pheran]

I would have some reservations about a solution that strong. I have used Oxalic Acid in crystal form for some years to remove stuborn stains and to give my teak deck its annual clean off/refurbishment. 2oz acid to one pint of warm water, apply with a brush and wash off thoroughly after 20 minutes. Even at that strength, you need to take care to keep it off your skin and ensure that the run-off doesn't mark the hull. The wall-paper paste mentioned some time ago was to provide some 'stiction' when using on vertical surfaces, eg to remove a brown tide-mark.

 

[stuartw]

It really depends on the level of staining. My late father and grandfather, who were cabinet makers, always used strong solutions to remove things like water staining. It does no harm to the wood provided it is thorougly rinsed. The normal precautions in the use of acids prevail, wether you use a strong or weak solution, ie gloves goggles etc.
As regards tide marks which are generally caused by oils, I find any strength of oxalic acid useless. I much prefer to use a mild abrasive cream. My favourite and the cheapest, is "Hob Brite", used for cleaning ceramic hobs. It is fantastic, and leaves the gelcoat with a wonderfull shine. It is also great on stainless steel.

 

[TrueBlue]

Isn't Oxalic Acid now classed as a Poison, meaning that you have to give your inside leg measurement - even if you can find a supplier??

Hitherto you could get it at a decent Chemist...

 

[ArthurWood]

I don't know about oxalic acid NOW being classed as a poison, but it has always been a poison and a VERY poisonous poison. It's a weak acid, but VERY poisonous, so take precautions especially if kids are around it. Know what to do in case of ingestion.

 

[VicS]

Oxalic acid is available from http://www.agwoodcare.co.uk at £7.42/Kg.

They say use as a saturated soution and that 1Kg makes 5 litres. I havn't checked the literature for solubility figures but that sounds about right.

Make up a solution of this concentration then add wall paper paste if you want to thicken it so that it stays on vertical sufaces.

If you want smaller quantities it really should be possible to order some from your local pharmacy but I imagine only if you are well known there.