Originally Posted By kentj340
Originally Posted By Stanton
The problem with Muriatic acid:
1) very strong and harmful fumes
2) it attacks the base metal
3) the items will flash rust instantly after neutralizing


More about the fumes: if you use it in a closed space like a garage, the fumes can attack everything metal in the area, if the exposure time is several hours or more.

After I left my shop for the day, a quart or two of vinegar leaked on the floor and put surface rust on every piece of steel in the room by morning. And this was just vinegar, not nearly as strong as typical store-bought dilute muratic acid.



This is why I sold my '72 SSP I was going to clone into a '71 RR. After sandblasting the entire front clip (not fenders), over several days with a Harbor Freight sand blaster, I left an open, empty gallon container of muriatic acid in the garage over night one night. Next morning I came out and every piece of metal in my garage was flash rusted. I was so disgusted, I sold the car.

Before:



After... frown



I did start blasting again, but then stopped in disgust and sold the damn thing.