Sodium Hydroxide Mix

Bill Clough

Bill Clough

New member
When mixing sodium hydroxide beads how much would be a good mix for a 5gal ??? I've ben buying my cleaner all last year with it haveing no problems.Now that the weather is colder the manufacture is haveing problems with the product jelling to the point of not being able to remix it. So I still have 2 bags of beads in the shop that we were using to make wood stripper out of that I'm going to use for hood cleaner. We are cleaning some prety hard grease but I dont want to mix to hot .
 
I use beads for all my hood cleaning. Basically i start with about a half a cup to a cup and add some if you dont think its working very well. Its basically however hot you want to make and how hard the grease is to get off. However make sure you mix it with cold and not hot water or else it may explode.
 
I start with a 1/2 a cup to 3 gallons of water, and go from there. Are you doing anything to make it stick, sometimes the answer is more dwell time, not making it hotter.
 
LOL, that is good Delta. I mix my caustic with hot water, always have, no explosions. But now I will look out.
 
max rob
While explosion may not quite explain it, it is a warning worth heeding. I think what is happening is the chemical reaction is causing the water to heat up rapidly causing rapid expansion which can cause it shoot out of the container it is being mixed in. I have seen it personally twice. We got lucky both times with no serious injuries, but it was close. I only mix with warm water at best. It is a funny thing, it won't happen every time, there must be some unknown factor that adds to the volatility. Perhaps we need a chemist.
 
I would agree about the chemist KMJT. I mix in a container with a large lid so maybe there is no pressure build up, but who knows. It is a good word of warning.
 
In my experience if you mix too much caustic to quickly with hot water it will explode by causing the water to heat to rapidly. I have had an employee almost lose thier eye sight and was burned very badly. However if you mix small amounts in a large tank of water such as a chemical tank its not as likley. Which i use hot water and heat my chemical tank with propane to get it as hot as possible for cleaning parts. It just basically comes down to how much water and how much caustic is being used. Should have made myself more clear the first time
 
Thanks to all for your replies.I use Dawn dish soap for a surfactant, does anyone use anything different with good results??
 
I have tried the Dawn dishsoap in my cleaning chemical and been dissappointed with the results. I've tried up to a quart in a 2.5 gallon mix and found it did not cling much better than not adding the Dawn. The only benfit is the chemical mix does not drift up the duct as much, but the squirt distance is less. Adding a squirt or two of Dawn in the spray bottle does seem to work.

Douglas Hicks
General Fire Equipment Cop of Eastern Oregon, Inc
 
ron p

Russell has developed a thickner for his HD80
[out soon]
This might just be what your looking for.
 
Let us know when this item comes out!

David
 
Douglas
How are you applying your chem's? You can thicken it with cornstarch. A reasonably simple process, but applying a thicker chemical presents new challenges.
 
Bryan, I use coke cans (or Pepsi cans if the coke guy asks). How much corn starch do you add to 2 gallons of chemical? Do you mix it w/ hot or cold water. Does it get lumpy and clog the chemical applicator? What does it do to an X- jet? I don't have an X-jet yet, but need to get one soon.

I mix the caustic w/hot water, I know I should not do so. Sometimes the mix will boil vigorously. Do not stand directly over the mix, it is not good for the lungs. I will not allow my helper to mix w/hot water, he is not carefull enough. He is allowed to only use cold water. I mix in a plastic bucket and use a wooden stick.

Douglas Hicks
General Fire Equipment Co of Eastern Oregon, Inc
 
Mix the caustic as you normally would, then mix the corn starch in a separate cup using cold water, you will have to play with the mixture, I don't do it all the time, only when I need the extra cling.
Start with a few cups of water and mix in about a 1/3 of a cup of cornstarch, it will dissolve easier in cold water. Then stir this mixture into the caustic, if it is not thick enough then simply repeat. I use the same soda bottle you do to apply.
 
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