Re: [TCML] Cleaning Copper Primary Coil (with Muriatic/Hydrochloric Acid)

[ADAM MUNICH <ajm9414@xxxxxxx>]

@David,

Are you sure you're not confusing HCl with fuming H2SO4? HCl is pretty
'mild' as far as strong acids go, and it certainly doesn't fume in a
20 baume solution. I've used it many times in the past to clean
copper, and it often works beautifully. Some H2S is made when the
copper sulfides are reacted, but not a huge amount.

Enough to be rather smelly, though.


-Adam



On Fri, Oct 5, 2012 at 1:15 AM, Frank <fxrays@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> Hi,
> I wrote about polishing last year and YES, some elbow grease and Brasso is
> the best.
>
> The problem with acid or pickling, besides being much more complicated and
> dangerous to use,  is it etches the copper and depending on the composition
> of the tubing, yes, it might not be pure, it can remove more parts of the
> metal than others.
> It makes the surface bright for sure but also rough. A rough surface is
> perfect for discharge points and you will end up with losses and a lot of
> corona around your primary. This will also kick out a lot more O3.
>
> On a smaller scale but still the same is using a wire wheel, it will make
> the tubing bright but it will also make the surface very irregular.
>
> I wax my tubing with a good high quality Carnauba type car wax. Depending on
> how much you run your coil, it will last a good while.
> Varnish or lacquers are great but sooner or later you will have a weak spot
> and tarnish will start and to resolve it, you have to remove the coating,
> polish and start over, wax is much easier to use.
>
> Hot glue or tie wraps both work good, tie wraps get brittle with age and O3
> and break eventually but they look cleaner than glue.
>
> Frank
>
>
> At 05:54 PM 10/4/2012, you wrote:
>>
>> Looks like I'll be whipping out that old can of Brasso. After hearing
>> about all the underlying grief with the acid, I think a little TLC
>> might be for the best.
>> So which is going to protect the copper best after I get it all nice
>> and shiny? The car wax, lacquer, or something else? I imagine applying
>> either of the suggested coatings would be quite the mess/complicated.
>> Unless the wax would just be applied with a rag like the brasso, but
>> then I'd be doubtful as to how durable that coat would be compared to
>> something else, like lacquer for example. I can also imagine the
>> lacquer would be tricky to apply throughout without making a huge
>> mess.
>>
>> Oh, and one more thing. Hot glue or zip ties for securing the coil?
>> I'm also open to other suggestions of course. Those are simply easiest
>> and more or less preferred. But still, your ideas are invaluable to
>> me, I'm always happy to hear them. ;)
>>
>> Thanks for all the help,
>> Brandon H.
>>
>> > forget the steel wool and just pick up a can of Brasso from your local
>> > dept store.
>>
>> >> As an alternative to this, brasso is basically the
>> >> same thing minus the waxes, so get some high quality car wax, and be
>> >> prepared to use some elbow grease...
>>
>> >> You can lacquer it when you are done (except
>> >> on the tap point) if you are really worried about it.
>>
>>
>> >>> Steel wool seems to be the way to go. I had a brilliant man tell me
>> >>> once
>> >>> to apply a vary thin coat of car wax to the copper after getting the
>> >>> primary situated. Seems to keep the tarnish away ;)
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>
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