HD-80 Extreme Solutions

Beth & Rod

SR Wood Geek / Moderator
Hey all,
We used HD-80 on a deck with Sikkens on it and it stripped it like a dream. The season may be winding down, but this stuff is worth trying next season.

Rod has dumped too much money into trying different things and spending too much time on a job in the past, and this product really works. Has one heck of an attitude.

Yeah, we were both skeptical at first, but no more....

Beth & Rod

:)
 
Ditto on the HD-80. It's about the only thing that will remove CWF-UV also. I live real close to Russ and will use his stripper next season. I like the EFC-38 cleaner also. It will take off failed sealer and leave an intact sealer alone. This is beneficial when cleaning solid stained decks. It tells you where the weak spots are.
 
I've only been in the business for a short time but finally did my first deck today. In fact I went to see Russ last Friday to pick up the HD80 and his brightener, hell of a nice guy, and extremely knowledgable. Reed - I live about an hour east, across the river. Beth - It was mostly because of all your input that I thought I would try it.
This morning before I left my shop I went ahead and mixed the chemicals. While mixing I'm thinking to myself, NO WAY! This stuff can't possibly remove anything.
My son and I get to the job and mask averything off. I have questions there but in another post. I sprayed the HD80 on with a pump up sprayer. It was a relitively small deck, 12X12, stained with CWF-UF when new 3 years ago and with another coat applied several weeks ago. It looked terrible! After about 10 to 15 minutes the deck looked the same only wet. As I walked on it to start washing I thought I was on ice. The old sealer looked like liquid rubber under my boots. I thought Oh No, what a mess! I'm here to tell you, every bit of it came off and when applying Russ' brightener my son said he could see the difference while I was applying it. The homeowner now thinks I'm a hero.
Thanks a million to Russ, Beth, and Reed.
Bob Warfield
Restoration Specialties
 
I've had mainly good success with HD-80. However, with Sikkens, I have had mixed results. Sometimes it strips off like a charm, and other times Sikkens will laugh at the HD-80, and not budge. And one other time, Cabot's semi trans gave me a fit. I was able to remove most on the floor, but the railings would not strip.
 
Hey Tony,
Sounds like maybe you could use some of the thickener to make it cling better? :)
Beth
 
Mike-

The thickener is still in the testing stage. Although we know it works and is stable it will not be released until spring.

It is a milky white liquid that you add to the water before you add the HD-80 or EFC-38 powder. It allows you to thicken the solution to any degree you desire. It really helps when you have to strip a lot of handrail or vertical surfaces such as cedar homes and log cabins.

If you remind me next time you order I will throw in a sample for you to play with.

Best of Luck

Russ
 
Ron,

I just checked out Steven Rowlett's site. While I'm flattered that he chose to compare our HD-80 formula I'm afraid that his statements are inaccurate.

The HD-80 formula calls for no less than 20% sodium hydroxide.

I don't think he is really comparing apples to apples. HD-80 was designed for a very specific application, the removal of finishes. While it does contain sodium hydroxide that is not what I would call the KEY ingredient.

I have also heard of another comparison stating that a particular product has "more active ingredient" than HD-80. Again while it is flattering to be the benchmark for these comparisons I have to state very bluntly this is simply not true.

The HD80 formula has 100% active ingredients. There are 7 ingredients and each is there for a very specific reason.

Thanks for the heads up!

Best of Luck

Russ
 
Yep!
And while HD-80 is a wonderful tool to have in your belt, it's smart to keep others in there too, such as the citrolic acid, and the EFC-38.

We have done some large restoration jobs that didn't need the HD-80, since there was not a finish to remove per se in those cases. While you can use it for that, you can also use the EFC-38 in concert wit the Citrolic acid to brighten and get fabulous results.

Then again, there are times you think you can use something more light duty, and well, you're just glad to have the HD-80 in the truck because something is on the wood and it's not coming off as easily as you might like.

The importance of having a suite of products designed to work in a variety of scenarios shouldn't be overlooked.

Just my .02 worth....

Beth:cool: & Rod:cool:
 
Russ.
I'd be interested in trying out the thickening agent as well. Maybe it will be just what I need.

Beth,
One other stripper I use on occasion is methoxyethanol based, which works great on stains such as TWP, Olympic, & F&P. I usually reserve the HD-80 for the tougher finish removals. If I don't know what type of stain I'll be removing, I'll just use the HD-80 and be done with it.

I have found that it seems to be a little gentler on the wood than the sodium hydroxide based strippers, especially cedar.

Look at the picture I attached, and notice there is no furring. I used about 600 psi with a 40 degree tip, and the old TWP just melted off. I brightened with citric acid.
 

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I have been testing the thickening agent with Russ. It actually smells like elmer's glue and even looks like it. You absolutely have to add it first to the water, you won't like the results if you don't. It is a great tool to have. You may want to do your own experimenting with it to achieve the desired "clinging" results. It DOES work, amazingly.

Reed
 
russell

is hd-80 exported to the uk yet.....if it is can you give me the heads up on where i can get it please.

cheers paul.
 
Paul-UK,
Give Beth From "See Dirt Run" a call she sells HD-80 among other chemicals. Her Phone numbers are at the bottom of her posts. You will have to figure the time difference from the UK to The East coast USA. I would say it is somewhere around 6 hrs, couldn't say for sure though.

Good Luck
 
Last edited:
Russel, Check you fax machine. I sent you test results. You are boasting your percentage levels in a powder form. Mix up the HD-80 and then see what your percentage is, do the math. Our Roof Magic is rated at a liquid state, If I reduced it to a drum kit dry rate it will show much more than the 20% dry rate of yours. Then you will have apples to apples. I only stated the Sodium Hydroxide level was higher, which it is. If that ingredent is not that critical then what is the beef.To be quite honest the results I sent you show mine is twice as strong overall. believe what you want. It was not my intention to " flatter you", I was just stating the results we found.
 
Hi Steve,
If you really believe yours is stronger, why not send me a free sample? Rod and I will test them, one against the other, side by side. Rod and I have worked with Russ over time as he developed his product and were able to provide feedback that was instrumental in his quest to fine tune the formula.

We have no chemist. We simply try and report. So why not send some here and let's see what happens side by side?

By the way, if you are cleaning shingles or shake why do you need something stronger than HD-80 anyway? Isn't it true that most homeowners don't even seal the shingles or shakes? I know here it is very true. And if it is true then why subject the wood to it if it is not necessary? Why not go with a percarb cleaner ....like EFC-38?????

Curious....

Beth:cool:
 
Beth, It is not a question of what I believe , it is what the test in the lab show. Everyone wants something free and no company can stay in business giving away all of the time. You are right about not needing anything stronger. Our chemicals are very concentrated and made to be diluted.
 
So send enough to make a gallon. I'm not asking for 30 lbs. Just enough to do a side by side test on say..... SIKKENS. BEHR. You know, the tough ones.

Send instructions on how to mix, in what ratio.

I certainly don't think anyone would question that we would report, honestly, the results we get....

Beth

p.s. Reed, we have been testing the thickener also and it is wonderful. Rod loves it, and has spoken to Russ about it many times.
 
Steve-

You really should have called me before you ran this test. The formula for HD-80 is 8 oz OF WEIGHT per gallon of water. When you run a titration test you are dealing with such a small sample (in this case they started with a test sample of 118 ml) if you are off by even a fraction on the weight you will not get an accurate result. Your chemist in this case used too little of the powder. On top of that if you take a 7 gram sample from a powder mixture with several ingredients you stand a very good chance of not getting the proper solution. HD-80 is not designed to be mixed in such small quantities. It's a powder blend.

You would get a more accurate reading if you mix 1/2 LB to a full gallon and then draw your 118 ml from that.

I don't have a "beef" with anything you say as long as it is not misleading or inaccurate. If you say that your product is more caustic than HD-80 that would indeed be true.

Best of Luck

Russell Cissell
 
Russell, We are running the test again just like you say and I will fax those results to you also. This wasn't meant to be a war of words. A lot of people like the HD-80 and that is why I made the comparison. Some like Coke and some like Pepsi, they are both good products.
 
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