Are all titration kits the same?

[bigleo48]

I mix it at the hydrominder with a dual tip eductor. I've been using it for about four years and recognize the risks. It is not for the novice or casual operator. If the solution is allowed to get too strong it can stain black anodized trim on some model vehicles. Clearcoat paint finishes can easily handle the stronger solutions.

CFCW

I think you mean "50% Saturated Solution". As a metallic base Alkaline, it would be understandably heavy.

So you're mixing it with your Alkaline soap as a booster? If you don't mind me asking, what ratio or titration to you dispense it at and what does it cost you per gallon?


RPH, wouldn't the safety of dispensing it depend on the ratio? I mean any of the Alkaline soaps I have ever used (that were any good) had Sodium Hydroxide as the main active ingredient.

BigLeo

 

[rph9168]

No question that sodium hydroxide is found in many if not most of the alkaline presoaks and tire cleaners. It is also true that it would depend on the dilution ratio at which the product is being used and products it was being used in conjunction with.

Even if it is being used as a boost the danger potential is high. Most quality formulated detergents with sodium hydroxide in them are "buffered" which allows the product to take full advantage of the cleaning power and reduce or eliminate the potential of damaging the vehicle. Even if one is mixing it as a booster in small amounts, they would be reducing or eliminating the buffering effect of the product they are blending it with.

Sodium hydroxide or caustic soda as it is commonly referred to is a cheap, powerful cleaner but can be dangerous to deal with. It also must be handled with great care. It can cause serious skin burns and blindness if it comes into contact with the eyes. I would not recommend using it unless one is fully aware of the potential danger to vehicles and employees and is willing to take the risk to save money.

 

[Greg Pack]

I add it to presoaks (diluted at their normal strength) somewhere between .5-1%. Price is probably .01-.03 cents per car. I prefer to apply a low ph presoak as a first step as an additional safety factor. My presoak mfg. is very cautious and tends to make less alkaline presoaks than other mfgs.

I admit I take the risk to save money: I can buy the product from local bulk chemical suppliers for less than $200 per 55, or I can buy ecolab 380 for $1200+. I get essentially the same results (and hazards) from both products. With the cost difference between the two products for one drum I could pay double the damage claims I have ever had concerning presoak damage to vehicles.

As I mentioned earlier boosting presoaks is not for the casual operator. I have experimented quite a bit with various brands (including Blendco) and continue to do so on occasion. The effectiveness of most all presoaks I have tried was directly related to their level of alkalinty. When I started boosting less alkaline solutions to the higher levels, the performance gap closed significantly. I have yet to find a magic bullet, but for safety reasons If I can find comparable cleaning at significantly lower alkalinity I'd be a buyer.

I just checked with a Blendco titration kit left by a previous operator. It came out to 18 drops

 

[rph9168]

At 18 drops you should be okay. I would avoid pushing it any further. If you feel you need better cleaning I would recommend trying another product instead of kicking up the boost. This might also raise your alkalinity without adding to the risk.

 

[jjw]

RPH is dead right. Caustic beads are cheap and work great for cleaning engine blocks and ovens. All paints have oils in them and what caustic does when activated by heat is remove the oils and any wax that might be on the finish. I use the KO product 9115 powder @ 400 to one for a presoak and the same product for the SS presoak and high pressure wash @ 900 to one. All are applied at 110 deg. F. Yes 9115 has some caustic in it, very little and it's buffered as not to be to hot. Owned an industrial supply co. for fifteen years and sold a train load of caustic to the refineries and auto/truck repair shops to clean grease off of engine blocks and nasty stuff in the oil industry. And I sold a lot of caustic to a large chain of convenience stores for use in there automatic CWs. And yes they burned some paint off, the clear coat looked like mange on a old sick dog. They pointed fingers at me and I was covered by my contractuals. Don't mess with this stuff if you don't have to. jjw