Muriatic Acid for cleaning dome interior

[md_massimino]

So my dome is a mess, I didn't realize how bad it was until I tried to remove some mortar from the dome sides today. I saw a video where someone used muriatic acid to basically dissolve mortar from the surface of the bricks of an outdoor fireplace. I'm wondering if the same can be done for cleaning the inside of the dome. Any thoughts here?

[Faith In Virginia]

Re: Muriatic Acid for cleaning dome interior

My thoughts would be NO. First off the fumes would make it dangerous in such a confined space. and second how will you rinse the acid off without filling your oven up with lots of water. There are more reasons but that's my big two.

[Lburou]

Re: Muriatic Acid for cleaning dome interior

!I'd say NO, unless you can get a politician to do it for you, they get face and neck peels all the time to look younger.

Use a four inch grinder with a masonry blade. Use eye protection and a respirator.

[brickie in oz]

Re: Muriatic Acid for cleaning dome interior

Once you fire the thing with a gooood fire the mortar will drop off.

Save the acid for the outside if need be.

[RTflorida]

Re: Muriatic Acid for cleaning dome interior

I did it, with gloves, long sleeves. a mask, and safety glasses. Not something I would recommend fora any novice. Even fully protected, you will experience the acid in the mot unwanted places. Just be careful, wear protection, and DO NOT use it full strength, need to be cut with a minium of 50% water.

RT

[brickie in oz]

Re: Muriatic Acid for cleaning dome interior

and DO NOT use it full strength, need to be cut with a minium of 50% water.

RT

The max recommendation is 10% acid 90% water.
You are lucky you didnt get burnt....

[RTflorida]

Re: Muriatic Acid for cleaning dome interior

Hey, I never said I followed any recommendations. I go with fast, effective, and yes, a bit dangerous. Personally, I've found the weak solution to be no more effective than a stiff brush and plain water. Again, not something I recommend. I know this is your trade and you do this every day so safety is of the utmost importance, but you have to admit a 10% solution doesn't do s#@t for removing much of anything unless the residue is very fresh. If the solution doesn't bubble and fizz, then its not strong enough for me. I can't stress enough the lack of proper protection is harmful, not to mention highly corrosive to the surface it is applied to. I only leave it on for seconds before rinsing.

Realistically, now that I think of how I usually mix it, I'm probably in the 25-30% range.

Brickie, what is the acid solution that is readily available in OZ? The stuff sold at every store here is 31.45% hydrochloric acid.

RT

[Faith In Virginia]

Re: Muriatic Acid for cleaning dome interior

Sorry guys! I just can imagine adding that much water to my oven. Then stick a hose in to rinse.

[Les]

Re: Muriatic Acid for cleaning dome interior

Hey, I never said I followed any recommendations.

RT - I used around 50/50. No messing around, took it off in a heatbeat. I didn't go in there with it to clean though. Come to think of it, I would go in there with plain water.

[brickie in oz]

Re: Muriatic Acid for cleaning dome interior

Brickie, what is the acid solution that is readily available in OZ? The stuff sold at every store here is 31.45% hydrochloric acid.

RT

They sell it as 33% here.

There was a bloke not long ago got cornered by the cops for some stupid offense, he drank 1 litre straight from the bottle in front of them, he was dead before he got to hospital.
Nasty was to go, it hurts enough if it splashes in your eyes.

[md_massimino]

Re: Muriatic Acid for cleaning dome interior

I knew it was nasty stuff and it makes me a little, uh, anxious. Being my first oven (and hopefully last) I wasn't sure if the firing would burn off the little bit of mortar stuck to the outside of the bricks so that sounds promising. I was also thinking of using a wire wheel on a grinder to buzz the mortar off but I don't know which is worse...the dust or the fumes from the acid.

[Tscarborough]

Re: Muriatic Acid for cleaning dome interior

Leave it alone, it is the inside of an oven.

[RTflorida]

Re: Muriatic Acid for cleaning dome interior

Its a sucky job job no matter what. I wouldn't bother unless you have big gobs of dried mortar hanging off off you bricks and joints. The acid thing just isn't very smart, yet I would do it again. I'm just a glutton for punishment, one day my stubbornness will get myself injured.

RT

[RTflorida]

Re: Muriatic Acid for cleaning dome interior

Faith, no hosing , just another bucket with clear water and a sponge. Hearth bricks covered with a couple of layers of cardboard, so little water makes it to the hearth bricks or the under insulation.

RT

[brickie in oz]

Re: Muriatic Acid for cleaning dome interior

I'm just a glutton for punishment, one day my stubbornness will get myself injured.

RT

I feel like Im looking into a mirror.......