Just FYI, muriatic acid is just another, ancient, name for hydrochloric acid.
Common use of the term in modern hardware stores is HCl diluted to something
around 25% Acid solder flux is generally HCL and zinc chloride along with some
other inorganic salts and flow modifying agents.
The ingredient in Coke that purportedly removes rust is phosphoric acid, which
is added to give the beverage some "bite". It is the active ingredient in most
of the automotive rust loosening potions as well. Coke does not have nearly
the concentration of H3PO4 found in these products. I have no idea if it works
on the oxides of copper as well as it does on the oxides of iron.
Vinegar is acetic acid. I think the concentration is something like 5-7%. You
can always juice it up by boiling off some of the water. IIRC acetic acid will
convert copper oxide to an acetate that is water soluble but I'm pretty sure it
also dissolves copper as well.
Al
AB2ZY
-----Original Message-----
From: TowerTalk [mailto:towertalk-bounces@contesting.com] On Behalf Of Craig
Clark
Sent: Sunday, August 03, 2014 8:42 AM
To: towertalk@contesting.com
Cc: 'Stephen Davis'
Subject: [TowerTalk] Cleaning tarnished wire
1. Re: Cleaning Tarnished Wire (Edwin Karl)
The key to all the suggestions posted so far is the acids found in coke and
ketchup.
Here's what Steve Davis of Davis RF has posted for cleaning Flexweave:
Soldering Flexweave Products
The directions below apply to bare copper flexweave products but also can be
valuable in dealing with protecting solder joints, cleaning aged flexweave and
insulated products. Please note all safety warnings on the materials you will
use. You should always wear safety glasses and work in a well ventilated space.
Most hardware retailers and plumbing supply stores carry some type of "plumbers
acid" or acid based soldering flux. This product is a diluted acid (typically
hydrochloric, sulfuric or muriatic) and is available under many brand names
including but not limited to: Copper Glo Liquid, Stay-Clean Flux and C-Flux.
The first step is to soak the end of the wire to be cleaned in the acid
solution for approximately ten minutes. Then using a small wire brush moving in
one direction (toward the end of the wire) carefully remove any oxidation on
the wire. Next the brushed wire should dipped several times in the acid
solution then rinsed with hot water dip. Dry the flexweave by pulling the wire
through a dry, clan rag. Allow the flexweave to dry for an hour or use a hair
dryer to speed up the process.
Once the flexweave is fully dry, form the wire with your fingers and tin with
your solder iron. Please note that whenever soldering new, old or cleaned
flexweave that you should always apply some silicone grease over the entire
solder joint and an inch or so on the wire either side of the solder joint.
Then put any waterproof (not water resistant), UV resistant tape over the
solder joint (see our amp fusion or coaxseal tapes). This will allow you to
deal with the joint in the future without any oxidation build up.
YMMV
Craig Clark K1QX
PO Box 209
107 Fitzgerald Rd
Rindge NH 03461
(603) 899-6103 office
(603) 520 6577 cell
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