Degreaser - Caustic Soda Beads

[Pat Norman]

Russ how do you neutralize caustic soda I remember you said citric acid will neutralize bleach but what neutralize caustic soda

I neutralize concrete and wood with oxalic acid. It also really brightens up the concrete well.

[big mike]

Balazs, where you been?
I mix caustic beads, sodium metasilicate, trisodium phosphate, and propylene glycol for a downstream stripper (works awesome). For concrete I mix SH with PowerStroke as well but only use that mixture in a pump up on the main oil drip line (downstrem PowerStroke for the rest). The only time I use SH is for wood restoration or concrete. ALWAYS neutralize with a mild acid. I've started using a 50/50 mix of citric and oxalic for wood restoration (I think they call that citralic, LOL)

[Washaway]

Mike I've been around, just haven't had the time to stop in....a lot going on.
Thanks for the secret mixture I need to play with it some before I find my way.
Sick of spending money on useless degreasers!


Ps: thanks everyone for your replies.

[HotShot]

By the time you do all that mixing, you may as well just buy a product that already works. Just my humble opinion.. and this is coming from a guy that mixes a mixture I call "Alien Ant Mix".. hahah

[WashRite]

For standard degreaser, I mix 16 oz of caustic soda beads with 10 oz of trisodium phosphate, and 5 oz of dawn in a 5 gallon plastic bucket. If I'm cleaning dumpster pads with heavy animal fats I will only use 8 oz of caustic soda beads and 8 oz of Potassium Hydroxide.

I generally mix the caustic soda beads, trisodium phosphate, and borax in 1lb zip-loc bags and usually carry 10 or so bags with me. Just fill a 5 lb plastic bucket about a 1/3 of the way with water, then add the 1 lb bag as you continue adding water and stirring as you continue to fill the water. I add the dawn at the end and slowly agitate just to mix it in. Note: gloves and skin and eye protection are a must.