As an Amazon Associate & eBay Partner: we earn from qualifying purchases

Grok.com: "What is the best website for metal finishing questions and answers?"

"Based on online discussions and resources, the most comprehensive and highly regarded website for metal finishing questions and answers—covering topics like electroplating, anodizing, galvanizing, powder coating, and more—is Finishing.com. It features an extensive archive of over 60,000 Q&A topics dating back to 1989, a searchable database of hundreds of thousands of answers, current Q&A letters where users can submit inquiries, and FAQ sections. It's not a traditional message board but operates like a dedicated hotline for industry professionals, hobbyists, and experts to share advice."

Home /
T.O.C.
Fun
FAQs
Good
Books
Ref.
Libr.
Adver-
tise
Help
Wanted
Current
Q&A's
Site 🔍
Search
finishing.com -- The Home Page of the Finishing Industry


  -----

Stainless steel splashed with acid




 

I own a cleaning company. I hired someone to acid-wash a quarry tile floor in a supermarket. muriatic acid ⇦ on eBay or Amazon [affil link] was used. Some of the acid splashed on the stainless steel. We haven't seen the condition of the stainless steel - but we need to "fix it". Any suggestions?

Barb Schimanski



 

Muriatic acid is a trade name for hydrochloric acid, HCl. HCl will attack iron and stainless, so your best bet would be to remove the steel to a safe location prior to application. Immediate rinsing or even immediate neutralization with baking soda [in bulk on eBay or Amazon [affil link] followed by a rinse might lessen the damage. If damage has been done, there will probably be no way to "fix" the parts; replacement may be necessary. If the damage is superficial and not structural, mechanical finishing can remove the discolored surfaces.

Phosphoric acid is a bit less aggressive toward stainless, and phosphoric acid followed by a rinse and then a sodium hypochlorite bath bleach/sodium hypochlorite in bulk on eBay or Amazon [affil link] (plus a rinse) is often used to etch and bleach grout. hydrogen peroxide ⇦ on eBay or Amazon [affil link] can be used as well, but test the oxidizers on a small area first, as these oxidizing agents can alter pigments in some unglazed tiles.

Dale Woika



 

Barb:

Get yourself some citric based cleaner and a variety of Scotch Brite pads and go to work on the stainless. You can match the existing finishes by varying the pads and pressure and direction of hand polishing. It is hard work, but you should be able to "save" the SS that was splashed with acid.

Dan Weaver




(No "dead threads" here! If this page isn't currently on the Hotline your Q, A, or Comment will restore it)

Q, A, or Comment on THIS thread -or- Start a NEW Thread



Disclaimer: It's not possible to fully diagnose a finishing problem or the hazards of an operation via these pages. All information presented is for general reference and does not represent a professional opinion nor the policy of an author's employer. The internet is largely anonymous & unvetted; some names may be fictitious and some recommendations might be harmful.

If you are seeking a product or service related to metal finishing, please check these Directories:

Finishing
Jobshops
Capital
Equipment
Chemicals &
Consumables
Consult'g,
& Software


About/Contact  -  Privacy Policy  -  ©1995-2025 finishing.com, Pine Beach, New Jersey, USA  -  about "affil links"