tayarimoto
Member
I read through all of the posts on how to use StarSan to remove paint from bottles. Though it seemed like it works fine, I don't have StarSan, and I figured something else would work just as well. Another hobby of mine, besides home brewing, is making electronic devices, so I will sometimes etch copper circuit boards at home using a solution of Hydrochloric Acid and Hydrogen Peroxide. I figured I might as well try it and see what happens. It worked great! ...so here is how to do it.
Now that that's out of the way, here we go:
-DO THIS OUTSIDE, preferably on cement or concrete
-Use only glass or Polyethylene containers (Soda bottles work fine, just keep out of reach of people who don't know what it was used for or what it is...think of the kids)
Like I said in the disclaimer, wear protective equipment. Do not inhale any fumes coming from the solution, as it's Cl2-Chlorine Gas.
Please dispose of the chemicals properly.
Now if you're reading this and thinking, "this dude is crazy, that's so dangerous," RDWHAHB. I'm not going to say it can't be dangerous, because it can, depending on the concentrations of the ingredients and the release of Chlorine gas. Just be careful and respect the chemistry, which in case you're wondering is as follows:
As you can see, everything eventually breaks down to Chlorine gas and Water. If you would like, and what I did to reduce the chance of trace amounts of chemicals is to soak, or boil, the bottles in water for an extended period of time, or continuously run water over the bottles to dilute any solution still on the bottle.
Now for the fun part:
Now that that's out of the way, here we go:
-DO THIS OUTSIDE, preferably on cement or concrete
-Use only glass or Polyethylene containers (Soda bottles work fine, just keep out of reach of people who don't know what it was used for or what it is...think of the kids)
- Make a solution using 2 parts Hydrochloric (Muriatic) Acid to 1 part Hydrogen Peroxide. (Doesn't have to be exact to still work)
- Fill bottles to be stripped of paint with water.
- Place bottle in container to be used with acid.
- Pour the acid solution in the container containing the bottle to a level slightly higher than the paint.
- Wait 10 minutes and check the bottle. (The paint is ready to be wiped off if it starts to run when you pull the bottle out of the container)
- You may need to wait more or less time. Wipe the paint off the bottle.
- Rinse bottle with water.
- Repeat.
Like I said in the disclaimer, wear protective equipment. Do not inhale any fumes coming from the solution, as it's Cl2-Chlorine Gas.
Please dispose of the chemicals properly.
Now if you're reading this and thinking, "this dude is crazy, that's so dangerous," RDWHAHB. I'm not going to say it can't be dangerous, because it can, depending on the concentrations of the ingredients and the release of Chlorine gas. Just be careful and respect the chemistry, which in case you're wondering is as follows:
As you can see, everything eventually breaks down to Chlorine gas and Water. If you would like, and what I did to reduce the chance of trace amounts of chemicals is to soak, or boil, the bottles in water for an extended period of time, or continuously run water over the bottles to dilute any solution still on the bottle.
Now for the fun part:
Keeps the nosy neighbors from getting in my business if they think I'm a dangerous criminal.
