Acid and alodine

[Bradrock]

Any advice on best source of acid and alodine products? Also a ballpark as to how much of each product is required? I will be importing from the USA, so the most cost effective option is to get the entire quantity in one order...

[DesertBearhawk]

Brad, you sure you want to use alodine? I started to do some parts with it and I did not like the results as well as the complete hassle dealing with it. After an hour long conversation with the tech team at Stewart Systems I am convinced that alodine has seen its day in most applications. If it was me I would go Stewart systems etcher and primer. I am using the water based stuff and I am super happy and I am not dealing with toxic stuff. Clean up is easy and dry time is quick. I bet it's cheaper to ship too as its not haz-mat. That's my two cents FWIW....

[Bradrock]

That sounds much more appealing. Hazmat def an issue for me to ship as well. Anybody else used Stewart systems stuff?

[LSA-14]

I am on the fence too. I was planning on alodine to save weight on the LSA but don't really like the idea of it and disposal is a problem. I did buy 4 oz of Henkel Alodine powder from a seller on EBay. I am thinking of going with a primer of some sorts and like the Stewart both because of the lack of fumes and the cleanup. Stewart does recommend a top coat over the primer but I think that anything would be better than nothing.

As for etch you can get that in the big box stores around here. I bought it a Lowes or Home Depot.

Dave

[X'N]

Aircraft spruce carries it. Dan scratch build patrol #243

[jaredyates]

The big box stores will sell it as a paint stripper. Around here it says phosphoric acid in big letters, but you can always check the fine print if you aren't as lucky.

[LSA-14]

The big box stores will sell it as a paint stripper. Around here it says phosphoric acid in big letters, but you can always check the fine print if you aren't as lucky.

The one that I bought is an actual metal prep instead of a stripper. It is Klean Strip Phosphoric Metal Prep & Etch. http://www.homedepot.com/p/Klean-Str...9#.UlH0wF_D9hE

The Phosphoric acid doesn't bother me at all from a disposal standpoint. The alodine is a lot harder to get rid of (legally).

[Gavin Chester]

When I was doing the acid etch process ( Phosphoric Acid ) on my Bear Hawk wing parts, It was a hot day out and of course I was all suited up,(Respirator ,Safety Glasses , Rubber gloves , Coveralls , Rubber Boots ) .
While waiting for the etch to start working on one batch of parts, I decided to get a Coca-Cola to drink and for whatever reason I read the ingredients on the can , Wow !! Check the third ingredient from the top !! I was already drinking it !!