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Applying Acid

69lkmno

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Sep 15, 2005
Messages
137
Location
San Diego - Oceanside
How did you apply the acid to the floor? Did you use mop or just pour the acid on to the floor? I've read etching with acid but need to know how you guys applied it.
 
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GearHead_1

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Jan 9, 2005
Messages
544
Location
Utah
There's probably several different ways to skin this cat. I just poured it and spread it out with a heavy bristle broom. I don't know that this is the best way but I had no problems doing it. That's the way my floor vendor (U Coat It) instructed me to do it.
 

Luckydevil

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Jan 1, 2005
Messages
1,469
Location
Tampa
I just did what the rustoleum instructions said. Mix in a watering pail and then use the pail to apply it.

"Etching is necessary to ensure proper adhesion of the coating to the concrete.
Wearing gloves and protective eyewear, slowly add one part phosphoric or
muriatic acid to four parts water in a plastic watering can
(follow manufacturer's
directions).
Pre-wet the floor, then distribute the acid solution over a 10' x 10' section of the
floor. Scrub with a stiff bristle brush. The acid solution should fizz for about 3-4
minutes while being scrubbed. When the fizzing stops, mop or hose off the
solution and move on to the next section. When all sections are completed, rinse
three times and scrub with a stiff bristle brush while rinsing. For best results, use
a foam or rubber squeegee to remove the rinse water from the surface. A wet/dry
vacuum can also be used to eliminate excess water, dirt and contaminants. Do
not leave pooled water on the floor."
 

White Chocolate

Active member
Joined
Sep 21, 2005
Messages
30
Location
Sacramento, CA
The best way is to use a watering can with a sprinkle nozzle. if you try to dump it on out of a bucket, you will get uneven etching results because the mixture will go on unevenly. sprinkle, let it sit for a minute, and then start scrubbing.
 

krooser

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Joined
Jun 3, 2005
Messages
2,377
Location
Waupaca, Wisconsin
I used my bride's watering can...took the zinc coating right off of it! Anyway..it worked fine...rinse TWICE...scrub with a shop broom...
 

bmwpower

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Apr 24, 2005
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Location
NJ
Friend of mine suggested I add the solution to one of those pesticide sprayers. Seems like it should give good results. Not sure how quick it would be for a large area though.
 

Luckydevil

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Jan 1, 2005
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Location
Tampa
bmwpower- That seems like it would take forever and I wouldn't want to be anywhere near that stuff if it is being sprayed and there is a mist.
 
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JohnHenrys48

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Jan 27, 2005
Messages
199
Location
Arizona
I didn't have a watering can so I diluted it in a 5 gal pail and slowly poured it on a section at a time. I let it "fizz" then scrubbed it thouroughly several times with a stiff brush, then rinsed and rinsed and scrubbed while rinsing...I think the watering can would have allowed a more even distribution but the pail seemed to work well enough, just be careful of splashing yourself.

Good luck,

Jim
 

bmwpower

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NJ
Anyone ever try using a floor scrubber/buffer to scrub the floor instead of a brush?
 

bmwpower

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NJ
Luckydevil said:
bmwpower- That seems like it would take forever and I wouldn't want to be anywhere near that stuff if it is being sprayed and there is a mist.

I can adjust the spray pattern. I'm going to need to use it any since I have to etch my block...would be hard to use a watering can to etch the block.

I might use the water can idea for the floor and the sprayer for the block... we'll see tonight.
 

Satatic

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Joined
Jan 12, 2005
Messages
425
Location
Bourbonnais, Illinois
Luckydevil said:
bmwpower- That seems like it would take forever and I wouldn't want to be anywhere near that stuff if it is being sprayed and there is a mist.
Yeah I've been in that situation. Muratic acid burns your lungs. You can feel it going in, it feels like your breathing sand.
 
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69lkmno

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Joined
Sep 15, 2005
Messages
137
Location
San Diego - Oceanside
bmwpower said:
Anyone ever try using a floor scrubber/buffer to scrub the floor instead of a brush?

You can but have to be really careful when the machine spins. You need to wear one of those rain boots to protect yourself.
I rented a buffer machine from Home Depot for 4 hour for $32.00 instead of scrubbing manually. It's well worth the money using that machine.
 

bob944

Member
Joined
Oct 13, 2005
Messages
15
Location
Haymarket, VA
The wife's plastic 2 gal type watering can worked well for me. No problems attacking the metal, and still use it for plants after a good cleaning. You can also buy a stiff "acid" brush made of all plastic that mounts to a broom stick for a few bucks at Home Depot.

Andy
 
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