Sulphuric Acid for anodising

HCl is easy to get as brick cleaner round here, but I can't see H2SO4 listed at Halfords. No luck with local motro factors so far

**LINK**

Most likely source is a small independent battery maker, who may be persuaded to sell you some.

They use it at 24% concentration I think.

regards

Brian

Neil,

I bought a couple of bottles a while back from a motor cycle factor I think it was these people. None of the high street motor factors would sell me it which I found rather odd considering I could buy online and have it delivered!

One Shot Drain Cleaner is 91% Sulphuric Acid. I got mine from B&Q, but I've seen it under various trade names in various plumbing type emporia.

When I wanted some battery acid to top up a damaged car battery, it was unobtainium. Even from my local agricultural garage/tyre/battery place don't keep it. The young chap made me feel like "Grandad trying to buy a gramophone needle for his smartphone" - apparently there isn't much call for loose battery acid these days.

I saw it yesterday in Wilko in Warrington.

Mike

EEk! I hope I can do better than £47 for 2.5 litres,!

The bike people say "Please Note:- The maximum amount of acid we are able to supply per person is 2 Litres. We are unable to process any orders for battery acid unless accompanied by a Battery. "

Looks like drain cleaner will do - I thought they all used caustic soda.

Thanks,

Neil

Blackgates list it (callers only). Reeves used to sell it to callers, don't know if they still do so - I've still got my winchester bought 30 years ago. I investigated this recently with some trepidation and a lot of ppe but it was fine and I have newly invigorated pickle bucket ready for some boiler making. As usual, ebay is your friend for hard to get chemicals e.g. **LINK**

HTH,

Rod

I tried to buy H2SO4 a few years ago for anodising parts- found a local supplier to me (Poole, Dorset) but they needed to check my unloading facilities were up to scratch... turns out they sold almost anything you could dream of in the way of nasty chemicals by the cubic metre... I suspected SWMBO would have feelings about that delivery on the doorstep...

If you find a good supply let us know how you get on and I'll restart my anodising plans!

I would have thought that any specialist car/truck/motorcycle battery supplier would be able to come up with the goods.

Many batteries are supplied dry and filled before they sell you one.

One shot drain cleaner is handy stuff to have around but is it just sulphuric acid because it has a slight purple hue to it?

I'm pretty sure it's not just Sulphuric Acid and water - that purple colour isn't normal! I doubt One Shot would be suitable for any purpose needing uncontaminated acid. The Safety Data Sheet doesn't identify anything other than Sulphuric Acid but that doesn't mean it's pure.

We shouldn't expect too much, it's for unblocking drains.

Cheers,

Dave

Good link from KWIL if you need the real thing. I notice it's a lot cheaper to buy it in bulk - 25 litres is only £70. You could keep it in the bath - what could possibly go wrong?

"One shot drain cleaner is handy stuff to have around but is it just sulphuric acid because it has a slight purple hue to it?"

I presume it's just a simple colouring to show it's not drinkable, much like the colour they put in methylated spirit. I don't imagine it would interfere with the action of the acid.

George

Is it actually for anodising? If so then it needs to be uncontaminated!

APC Pure and Atom Scientific deliver it (same company, different prices).

It's reccomended you use distilled water, but depending on your area tap water may be ok.

Ratio is generally 160-200 mol for anodising  

Edited By Chris Denton on 13/06/2016 15:53:06

That's the most useful advice so far

Purple drain cleaner might not be a good idea - it might turn my anodising the wrong colour! OK for pickle though.

Found some at a specialist factors, but they only hold one bottle at a time so they say let them know before coming over, £9.99 a litre inc. vat

Neil

If you happen to be in B'ham you can buy 5l of it from Cousin's in the jewelry quarter, nitric too. They don't sell much else - mostly a display of what the company sells. Hydrochloric can sometimes be bought from some where nearby - if they have stock. They know where.

If you do buy any and it's kept long term best transfer it to a demi john - home brew shop is a good source for those.

What I thought you actually need is weak nitric and caustic soda. Pretty sure that's what I used.

John

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Edited By Ajohnw on 13/06/2016 16:09:11