Clearing blocked toilet with caustic soda
Timothy Murphy
just after the U-bend.
My local plumbers merchant gave me a jar of sodium hydroxide,
and told me this was as good as anything.
The label on the container warns me to follow the instructions carefully,
but unfortunately the instructions are missing.
Can I safely pour some down the toilet?
Do I have to ensure it will get round the U-bend?
Any advice or suggestions gratefully received.
--
Timothy Murphy
e-mail (<80k only): tim /at/ birdsnest.maths.tcd.ie
tel: +353-86-2336090, +353-1-2842366
s-mail: School of Mathematics, Trinity College, Dublin 2, Ireland
Malcolm Stewart
enhance the action. Can't remember the name for sure (but "Blockbuster"
comes to mind) but it sure was dangerous as the burns on one of the team
demonstrated.
The safety instructions will be the standard ones for caustic soda / sodium
hydroxide. Bear in mind that even weak caustic soda is very dangerous to
skin and eyes (full face visor recommended) and will make soap out of you in
short order - and you may not feel anything until it's too late.
If it doesn't get round the u-bend, how do you expect it to work?
--
M Stewart
Milton Keynes, UK
Timothy Murphy <t...@birdsnest.maths.tcd.ie> wrote in message
news:YACLc.5193$Z14....@news.indigo.ie...
Andy Hall
<t...@birdsnest.maths.tcd.ie> wrote:
>My first-floor toilet is blocked, as far as I can see
>just after the U-bend.
>
>My local plumbers merchant gave me a jar of sodium hydroxide,
>and told me this was as good as anything.
>The label on the container warns me to follow the instructions carefully,
>but unfortunately the instructions are missing.
>Can I safely pour some down the toilet?
>Do I have to ensure it will get round the U-bend?
>
>Any advice or suggestions gratefully received.
You may be better off removing the pan, taking it outside and cleaning
it with a pressure washer or something similar.
Depending on the obstruction, caustic soda may not be all that
effective anyway.
I had the unenviable job of clearing one for somebody not long ago and
the obstruction turned out to be a number of vampire's teabags
gathered in a mass.
It would probably have taken caustic soda some while to dissolve those
sufficiently for them to move.
.andy
To email, substitute .nospam with .gl
Peter Parry
<t...@birdsnest.maths.tcd.ie> wrote:
>The label on the container warns me to follow the instructions carefully,
>but unfortunately the instructions are missing.
Are you sure they are not on a multi layer label? Packs of Sodium
Hydroxide often have the instructions behind the label on the rear -
you have to peel it off to get at them.
>Can I safely pour some down the toilet?
Only with care. You must add caustic soda to water (not water to
caustic soda) because when it dissolves it generates considerable
heat. If you simply pour the crystals in the pan the heat generated
locally around the pile of crystals can crack the ceramic pan. You
need to mix it a separate vessel or take great care to stir as you
are adding the crystals.
Bear in mind that Sodium Hydroxide is really quite dangerous and
that alkali burns, especially to the eyes, are far more dangerous
than acid burns.
--
Peter Parry.
http://www.wpp.ltd.uk/
Lobster
> On Thu, 22 Jul 2004 00:01:11 +0100, Timothy Murphy
> <t...@birdsnest.maths.tcd.ie> wrote:
>
> >My first-floor toilet is blocked, as far as I can see
> >just after the U-bend.
> >
> >My local plumbers merchant gave me a jar of sodium hydroxide,
> >and told me this was as good as anything.
> >The label on the container warns me to follow the instructions carefully,
> >but unfortunately the instructions are missing.
> >Can I safely pour some down the toilet?
> >Do I have to ensure it will get round the U-bend?
> >
> >Any advice or suggestions gratefully received.
>
> You may be better off removing the pan, taking it outside and cleaning
> it with a pressure washer or something similar.
>
> Depending on the obstruction, caustic soda may not be all that
> effective anyway.
I was about to say, surely it's got to be worth a go with it first,
rather than removing the pan without trying? But I suppose if it
doesn't work, and stays 100% blocked, then when he does have to take
the pan off, then he's left with all that caustic liquid slopping
about - not fun. Does the OP have a clue what's causing the blockage?
OP - for what it's worth, the instructions on my pack of caustic soda
for cleaning a drain (in pellet form) read "wear suitable gloves/eye
protection add 100g to 1 litre cold water in a bucket, stir constantly
til completely dissolved, carefully pour entire solution down drain.
Leave for 30 mins and then use plunger."
It also points out never to add water to caustic soda, always the
other way round, and notes that solution will heat up when dissolving.
In the light of what another poster mentioned (using sulphuric acid)
I'd also add, for heaven's sake don't mix it with any other
cleaners/unblockers (esp sulphuric acid) as the results could be
nasty!!).
If you do use it, I'd certainly leave it longer than 30 mins though.
Overnight probably. It would be worth removing as much water from the
loo bowl as you can first, to avoid unnecessary dilution of the
caustic soda.
hth
David
The Natural Philosopher
> Our site services used concentrated sulphuric acid, plus some chemical to
> enhance the action. Can't remember the name for sure (but "Blockbuster"
> comes to mind) but it sure was dangerous as the burns on one of the team
> demonstrated.
> The safety instructions will be the standard ones for caustic soda / sodium
> hydroxide. Bear in mind that even weak caustic soda is very dangerous to
> skin and eyes (full face visor recommended) and will make soap out of you in
> short order - and you may not feel anything until it's too late.
It very bad for eyes.
I hace got loads on my skin, It burns and te skin tirns to soap. You
most certainly will feel it before its too late. Fortunately the
antidote is lots of clean fresh water.
My use o it is cabvalier, and considered dangerous by most of teh
pansies on this group.
I would in fact do the folwing.
Tip half the power or crytals int the loo, and follow up with a kettle
of boiling water, making sure that any splashes and hisses happen
inside. Best way to enbsure that is to slap a sheet of something like
polystyrene over the top of it all till the witches cauldron ceases.
Wipe up any splashes on anything with copious cold water.
Then have a cup of coffee.
Then come back and flush the loo.
If it even drains sklightly this caustc will generally clear it BUT.
If teh blocakge is clelluose material (paper or tampons) then sulphuric
acid may actually be a better bet.
Any household should have (tho not accessible by kids) a 5 litre
container of brick aciod (hydrochloric) drain cleaner (sulhuric) and a
few kg of caustic soda.
There is little ethat will survive attack by a series of chemicals like
that. Bricks glass abd sand beig the exception.
stuart noble
Peter Parry wrote in message
>Only with care. You must add caustic soda to water (not water to
>caustic soda) because when it dissolves it generates considerable
>heat. If you simply pour the crystals in the pan the heat generated
>locally around the pile of crystals can crack the ceramic pan. You
>need to mix it a separate vessel or take great care to stir as you
>are adding the crystals.
seconds, but hardly a threat to a ceramic pan.
The main problem with pouring it straight into water is that the crystals
form a solid mass which then takes a long time to dissolve.
In any case it's highly unlikely to unblock a WC, which IME usually has
something solid stuck in the soil pipe. Last one I did was a combination of
a large cooking apple, a pair of St.Michael underpants, and a piano castor.
The mind boggles.
RichardS
news:2m9ii5F...@uni-berlin.de...
>
<snip>
> Last one I did was a combination of
> a large cooking apple, a pair of St.Michael underpants, and a piano
castor.
> The mind boggles.
>
Yikes - a previous user of that particular facility must have had serious
medical and/or psychological problems!
--
Richard Sampson
email me at
richard at olifant d-ot co do-t uk
Andy Hall
wrote:
>"stuart noble" <stuart'noble...@ntlworld.com> wrote in message
>news:2m9ii5F...@uni-berlin.de...
>>
><snip>
>> Last one I did was a combination of
>> a large cooking apple, a pair of St.Michael underpants, and a piano
>castor.
>> The mind boggles.
>>
>
>Yikes - a previous user of that particular facility must have had serious
>medical and/or psychological problems!
Especially buying underwear in Marks and Spencers.
Timothy Murphy
> If it doesn't get round the u-bend, how do you expect it to work?
>> My first-floor toilet is blocked, as far as I can see
>> just after the U-bend.
I must say I wondered that.
The toilet does drain slowly,
taking maybe 30 minutes after flushing.
So I guess the sodium hydroxide should slowly get round the bend
if the level in the toilet is slightly above the U-bend.
I'll try it anyway (with gloves and goggles!)
Dave Baker
>From: Timothy Murphy t...@birdsnest.maths.tcd.ie
>Date: 22/07/04 13:59 GMT Daylight Time
>Message-id: <dTOLc.5233$Z14....@news.indigo.ie>
>
>Malcolm Stewart wrote:
>
>> If it doesn't get round the u-bend, how do you expect it to work?
>
>>> My first-floor toilet is blocked, as far as I can see
>>> just after the U-bend.
>
>I must say I wondered that.
>The toilet does drain slowly,
>taking maybe 30 minutes after flushing.
>So I guess the sodium hydroxide should slowly get round the bend
>if the level in the toilet is slightly above the U-bend.
>I'll try it anyway (with gloves and goggles!)
Might be worth trying a length of rubber hosepipe shoved round the U bend and
try to push the blockage out.
--
Dave Baker - Puma Race Engines (www.pumaracing.co.uk)
Regione interior.....Scorchio :)
Regione exterior....Scorchio :)
Costa...................Scorchio :)
Chalfont St Peter...Cumulo bloody nimbus as per usual.
Tim Mitchell
<pumar...@aol.comNoEmails> writes
>>Subject: Re: Clearing blocked toilet with caustic soda
>>From: Timothy Murphy t...@birdsnest.maths.tcd.ie
>>Date: 22/07/04 13:59 GMT Daylight Time
>>Message-id: <dTOLc.5233$Z14....@news.indigo.ie>
>>
>>Malcolm Stewart wrote:
>>
>>> If it doesn't get round the u-bend, how do you expect it to work?
>>
>>>> My first-floor toilet is blocked, as far as I can see
>>>> just after the U-bend.
>>
>>I must say I wondered that.
>>The toilet does drain slowly,
>>taking maybe 30 minutes after flushing.
>>So I guess the sodium hydroxide should slowly get round the bend
>>if the level in the toilet is slightly above the U-bend.
>>I'll try it anyway (with gloves and goggles!)
>
>Might be worth trying a length of rubber hosepipe shoved round the U bend and
>try to push the blockage out.
Or improvise a plunger with a wad of cloth in a bin bag. (or even use a
real toilet plunger).
--
Tim Mitchell
Timothy Murphy
> Or improvise a plunger with a wad of cloth in a bin bag. (or even use a
> real toilet plunger).
I have tried a plunger -
seems more suited to a sink drain though,
as I don't think it seals on the loo.
Also tried a flexible drain cleaner.
Am just about to try the hydroxide method ...
Peter Parry
<stuart'noble...@ntlworld.com> wrote:
>
>Peter Parry wrote in message
>>If you simply pour the crystals in the pan the heat generated
>>locally around the pile of crystals can crack the ceramic pan. You
>>need to mix it a separate vessel or take great care to stir as you
>>are adding the crystals.
>I think that's a bit alarmist. Caustic heats cold water to boiling for a few
>seconds, but hardly a threat to a ceramic pan.
Someone I know tried to use it to clean an old Belfast sink. They
filled the sink with cold water and poured the contents of a plastic
bottle of fine caustic soda crystals into the sink and then went to
find a stirrer - a few minutes later the sink was in two halves
neatly sheared through the pile of caustic soda crystals.
>Last one I did was a combination of
>a large cooking apple, a pair of St.Michael underpants, and a piano castor.
Errr.... I think caustic soda would be the least of your worries!!
Tim Mitchell
<t...@birdsnest.maths.tcd.ie> writes
>Tim Mitchell wrote:
>
>> Or improvise a plunger with a wad of cloth in a bin bag. (or even use a
>> real toilet plunger).
>
>I have tried a plunger -
>seems more suited to a sink drain though,
>as I don't think it seals on the loo.
Toilet plungers have a big flat rubber sheet about 8 inches diameter
--
Tim Mitchell
Chris J Dixon
Late one Christmas Eve I discovered a similar blockage. Forced
to improvise, I screwed the rubber backing pad for my sanding
disk onto the end of a broomstick. A few vigorous pumps later,
all was well.
Chris
--
Chris J Dixon Nottingham UK
ch...@cdixon.me.uk
Have dancing shoes, will ceilidh.
Dave Liquorice
>> Last one I did was a combination of a large cooking apple, a pair
>> of St.Michael underpants, and a piano castor.
>
> Yikes - a previous user of that particular facility must have had
> serious medical and/or psychological problems!
Or the household had a young child...
--
Cheers new...@howhill.com
Dave. pam is missing e-mail
stuart noble
>>Last one I did was a combination of
>>a large cooking apple, a pair of St.Michael underpants, and a piano
castor.
>
>Errr.... I think caustic soda would be the least of your worries!!
the soil pipe, and were lodged on a bend about 3ft beyond the inspection
chamber on their way to the main sewer. IME most blockages are nothing to do
with the WC itself. If your on shared drains, it could be halfway down the
street.
Lobster
> In any case it's highly unlikely to unblock a WC, which IME usually has
> something solid stuck in the soil pipe. Last one I did was a combination of
> a large cooking apple, a pair of St.Michael underpants, and a piano castor.
> The mind boggles.
What no cuddly toy?
An acquaintance of mine recently had to cure a blocked manhole.
Having opened it up, he eventually managed to withdraw a man's shirt
(bit poo-ey but in otherwise good condition) and a large bath towel;
that seemed to sort it out. Nobody recognized the items or had a clue
how they got there.
David
BillV
"Malcolm Stewart" <malcolm...@megalith.freeserve.co.uk> wrote in
message news:cdmto9$6ua$1...@newsg2.svr.pol.co.uk...
> Our site services used concentrated sulphuric acid, plus some chemical to
> enhance the action. Can't remember the name for sure (but "Blockbuster"
> comes to mind) but it sure was dangerous as the burns on one of the team
> demonstrated.
of the blockage
Whereas in my experience bog standard caustic soda crystals don't...
However, don't try the soda first then put the acid in .. the results will
be very dramatic and your pan will probably be cracked from the heat.
Peter Parry
<stuart'noble...@ntlworld.com> wrote:
>Forgot to add that these items had all sucessfully navigated the u bend
I was more concerned about their navigating the bits beforehand.
Andy Dingley
<t...@birdsnest.maths.tcd.ie> wrote:
>My local plumbers merchant gave me a jar of sodium hydroxide,
>and told me this was as good as anything.
Waste of time. Caustic soda is good at shifting kitchen fat blockages
in a fairly dry pipe. But for toilets, go for an acid cleaner instead
- cond sulphuric should be in ny decent plumber's merchant.
--
Smert' spamionam
Dave Plowman (News)
Dave Liquorice <new...@howhill.com> wrote:
> >> Last one I did was a combination of a large cooking apple, a pair
> >> of St.Michael underpants, and a piano castor.
> >
> > Yikes - a previous user of that particular facility must have had
> > serious medical and/or psychological problems!
> Or the household had a young child...
Don't fancy my chances against your kids if they can take a castor off a
piano...
--
*The only difference between a rut and a grave is the depth.
Dave Plowman da...@davenoise.co.uk London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.
Chris Doran
A one time colleague told me that in his road THE AUTHORITIES had to
be called in to unblock the sewer and found ... a garden rake. Since
no one owned up, they were going to fine the whole street (can they do
that?) I didn't hear what happened in the end.
Chris
Andy Dingley
<stuart'noble...@ntlworld.com> wrote:
>something solid stuck in the soil pipe. Last one I did was a combination of
>a large cooking apple, a pair of St.Michael underpants, and a piano castor.
And this is why, no matter how bad the software industry gets, I'm not
becoming a plumber.
Thomas Crapper used to use apples to test the flushing power of his
cisterns and pans.
Bill
>be called in to unblock the sewer and found ... a garden rake. Since
>no one owned up, they were going to fine the whole street (can they do
>that?) I didn't hear what happened in the end.
>
>Chris
A colleague of mine in Cambridge found a set of drain rods blocking his
drain! Presumably the previous owner had let go at the wrong moment,
devils own job to get out apparently.
Also while working at a tournament at Wentworth a few years back there
was a blockage in a manhole that the s**t tanker driver was emptying the
mobile toilet tanks into, turned out to be a recently dead dog.
I'm sure you wanted to know this!
--
Bill
Bill
<din...@codesmiths.com> writes
>
>Thomas Crapper used to use apples to test the flushing power of his
>cisterns and pans.
>
--
Bill
Dave Plowman (News)
Andy Dingley <din...@codesmiths.com> wrote:
> >something solid stuck in the soil pipe. Last one I did was a
> >combination of a large cooking apple, a pair of St.Michael underpants,
> >and a piano castor.
> And this is why, no matter how bad the software industry gets, I'm not
> becoming a plumber.
But if they're in demand, they can cherry pick the jobs they want to do.
--
*Money isnå¥ everything, but it sure keeps the kids in touch
Tim Mitchell
<Bi...@birchnet.demon.co.uk> writes
While working on one of the nation's great outdoor music festivals we
had a similar problem with the bogsucker tanker and it was (eventually)
found to be a dead cow. It was quite a large manhole and it was
suspected that a local farmer had dumped the corpse down there.
--
Tim Mitchell
dave @ stejonda
<malcolm...@megalith.freeserve.co.uk> writes
>Bear in mind that even weak caustic soda is very dangerous to skin and
>eyes (full face visor recommended) and will make soap out of you in
>short order
Just in case anyone reading doesn't believe this comment - I once didn't
bother with gloves when using diluted caustic soda to clear a drain -
and wondered for a while where the soap on my hands had come from - very
odd sensation, and not what I'd expect to feel when my skin was being
corroded.
--
dave @ stejonda
Darwin Award Nominee on numerous occasions
Badger
dave @ stejonda wrote:
> In message <cdmto9$6ua$1...@newsg2.svr.pol.co.uk>, Malcolm Stewart
> <malcolm...@megalith.freeserve.co.uk> writes
>
>> Bear in mind that even weak caustic soda is very dangerous to skin and
>> eyes (full face visor recommended) and will make soap out of you in
>> short order
>
>
> Just in case anyone reading doesn't believe this comment - I once didn't
> bother with gloves when using diluted caustic soda to clear a drain -
> and wondered for a while where the soap on my hands had come from - very
> odd sensation, and not what I'd expect to feel when my skin was being
> corroded.
>
And a good filter mask, not just a dust mask, the fumes when 100%
twaddle hits water, or conc acid, will do your lungs no good either!
I can however recommend a pressure washer flexi attachment, cleaning
chemical drains at work, that usually carry acid/caustic etches so
nothing you can pour in them will shift the residues, its the best
method apart form pigging we've found, and for plastic drains like
vulcathene pigging is almost impossible anyway.
I can well remember the tanker drivers that serviced the private houses
around the maidenhead area museum, anatomically shaped candles and
battery operated devices were quite regularly recovered....
Niel.
Timothy Murphy
>>My local plumbers merchant gave me a jar of sodium hydroxide,
>>and told me this was as good as anything.
>
> Waste of time. Caustic soda is good at shifting kitchen fat blockages
> in a fairly dry pipe. But for toilets, go for an acid cleaner instead
> - cond sulphuric should be in ny decent plumber's merchant.
Well, I have to say - the caustic soda worked.
I left it overnight, as advised.
In the morning the toilet did not appear to be clear,
but I poured about 10 litres of very hot (80deg C) water down,
again as advised, and the blockage suddenly cleared,
and now the toilet appears to be as good as new.
Terry
"Timothy Murphy" <t...@birdsnest.maths.tcd.ie> wrote in message
news:CIjMc.5418$Z14....@news.indigo.ie...
Would/does caustic plus very hot water be (likely to) dissolve a wax toilet
seal???? Just a thought!
stuart noble
Terry wrote in message ...
>Would/does caustic plus very hot water be (likely to) dissolve a wax toilet
>seal???? Just a thought!
alkali or the heat would affect it.
Andy Hall
wrote:
>
>Would/does caustic plus very hot water be (likely to) dissolve a wax toilet
>seal???? Just a thought!
>
I believe that these are a north America thing, Terry. I've seen
them in places like Home Depot in the U.S. where they fit in the waste
spigot in the floor and the pan drops into that.
I assume you have the same in Canada?
.andy
To email, substitute .nospam with .gl
The Natural Philosopher
> In message <cdmto9$6ua$1...@newsg2.svr.pol.co.uk>, Malcolm Stewart
> <malcolm...@megalith.freeserve.co.uk> writes
>
>> Bear in mind that even weak caustic soda is very dangerous to skin and
>> eyes (full face visor recommended) and will make soap out of you in
>> short order
>
>
> Just in case anyone reading doesn't believe this comment - I once didn't
> bother with gloves when using diluted caustic soda to clear a drain -
> and wondered for a while where the soap on my hands had come from - very
> odd sensation, and not what I'd expect to feel when my skin was being
> corroded.
>
Inded, since the epidermis is largely dead and has no nerve cells, you
just end up wih a fresh shiny and very clean layer of slighly less dead
skin.
No big deal really.
SpamTrapSeeSig
Philosopher <a@b.c> writes
This guy's an idiot, but each to their own I suppose.
Caustic burns do a lot of tissue damage (er, destroy it, really). As a
minimum, wear eye protection and gloves and cover your arms. Also note
this cautionary tale:
I decided to use caustic soda on the lavatory bowl the other day. I've
done this before, but I was in a rush. Instead of pre-mixing it in a
bucket and pouring it in, I just sprinkled "a few" crystals into the
bowl. The phone went and I went to answer it, without stirring the
mixture.
It wasn't a few. The heat of solution (energy released when the crystals
dissolved) caused the mixture to become very hot, at the bottom of the
pan, where the crystals were. The resulting heat cracked the bowl (I
don't know that it boiled - probably did - as I wasn't there). I knew
this happened - once nearly melted the bottom of a plastic bucket in a
similar way - but I didn't think it could hurt ceramics. Silly me.
Moral: when you make up the solution, keep stirring (piece of old lath
or wooden stick is good), and preferably make it up in a metal container
(a galv. bucket is ideal). If you don't break them up, the crystals once
poured-in can form a very hot solid-ish lump at the bottom as they
dissolve, which is what does the damage.
ALWAYS add crystals to water, not the other way around, and plan what
you will do in the event of spillage, especially on you.
Up-side: It's a really brilliant, inexpensive, de-greaser and drain
cleaner, and superb on oven trays and shelves.
Regards,
Simonm.
--
simonm|at|muircom|dot|demon|.|c|oh|dot|u|kay
SIMON MUIR, UK INDEPENDENCE PARTY, BRISTOL www.ukip.org
EUROPEANS AGAINST THE EU www.members.aol.com/eurofaq
GT250A'76 R80/RT'86 110CSW TD'88 www.kc3ltd.co.uk/profile/eurofollie/
IMM
"SpamTrapSeeSig" <no-...@nospam.demon.co.uk> wrote in message
news:rMjwQvkP...@muircom.demon.co.uk...
> In article <ce8sek$24t$12$830f...@news.demon.co.uk>, The Natural
> Philosopher <a@b.c> writes
> >dave @ stejonda wrote:
> >
> >> In message <cdmto9$6ua$1...@newsg2.svr.pol.co.uk>, Malcolm Stewart
> >><malcolm...@megalith.freeserve.co.uk> writes
> >>
> >>> Bear in mind that even weak caustic soda is very dangerous to skin
> >>>and eyes (full face visor recommended) and will make soap out of you
> >>>in short order
> >> Just in case anyone reading doesn't believe this comment - I once
> >>didn't bother with gloves when using diluted caustic soda to clear a
> >>drain - and wondered for a while where the soap on my hands had come
> >>from - very odd sensation, and not what I'd expect to feel when my
> >>skin was being corroded.
> >>
> >Inded, since the epidermis is largely dead and has no nerve cells, you
> >just end up wih a fresh shiny and very clean layer of slighly less dead
> >skin.
> > No big deal really.
>
> This guy's an idiot,
I fully agree.
> Caustic burns do a lot of tissue damage (er, destroy it, really). As a
> minimum, wear eye protection and gloves and cover your arms. /
The Natural Philosopher
Well it worked for me. I protect eyes, but the odd caustic burn on the
skin is no big deal. Just wash with water and there you are. Nice shiny
patch of skin.
If you are stupid enough to leave caustic unattended tho, you deserve
what you get.
Cearmics will crack if you put boiling water in them.
I flush it down as soon as it starts to boil, and generally have hot
water in there first to get the bowl up to temp.
raden
<no-...@nospam.demon.co.uk> writes
>I decided to use caustic soda on the lavatory bowl the other day. I've
>done this before, but I was in a rush. Instead of pre-mixing it in a
>bucket and pouring it in, I just sprinkled "a few" crystals into the
>bowl. The phone went and I went to answer it, without stirring the
>mixture.
>
>It wasn't a few. The heat of solution (energy released when the
>crystals dissolved) caused the mixture to become very hot, at the
>bottom of the pan, where the crystals were.
Boiling caustic soda - luvverly, I've done it a few times
how does it go ?
"I love the smell of Napalm in the morning" or something
--
geoff
IMM
"The Natural Philosopher" <a@b.c> wrote in message
news:cerc0n$san$3$830f...@news.demon.co.uk...
> IMM wrote:
>
> > "SpamTrapSeeSig" <no-...@nospam.demon.co.uk> wrote in message
> > news:rMjwQvkP...@muircom.demon.co.uk...
> >
> >>In article <ce8sek$24t$12$830f...@news.demon.co.uk>, The Natural
> >>Philosopher <a@b.c> writes
> >>
> >>>dave @ stejonda wrote:
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>>In message <cdmto9$6ua$1...@newsg2.svr.pol.co.uk>, Malcolm Stewart
> >>>><malcolm...@megalith.freeserve.co.uk> writes
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>>Bear in mind that even weak caustic soda is very dangerous to skin
> >>>>>and eyes (full face visor recommended) and will make soap out of you
> >>>>>in short order
> >>>>
> >>>> Just in case anyone reading doesn't believe this comment - I once
> >>>>didn't bother with gloves when using diluted caustic soda to clear a
> >>>>drain - and wondered for a while where the soap on my hands had come
> >>>
> >>>>from - very odd sensation, and not what I'd expect to feel when my
> >>>>skin was being corroded.
> >>>
> >>>Inded, since the epidermis is largely dead and has no nerve cells, you
> >>>just end up wih a fresh shiny and very clean layer of slighly less dead
> >>>skin.
> >>>No big deal really.
> >>
> >>This guy's an idiot,
> >
> > I fully agree.
> Well it worked for me.
I still agree you are an idiot.
SpamTrapSeeSig
Philosopher <a@b.c> writes
>Well it worked for me. I protect eyes, but the odd caustic burn on the
>skin is no big deal. Just wash with water and there you are. Nice shiny
>patch of skin.
If you get there in time. If you don't notice, you may be joining the
queue for skin grafts later. I know someone this happened to (not me).
>If you are stupid enough to leave caustic unattended tho, you deserve
>what you get.
True. I didn't say it was a smart move.
>Cearmics will crack if you put boiling water in them.
I think it must have been the thickness of the glaze in this case. It's
never bothered any teapot we've owned, and the thermal shock from
caustic soda dissolving must be far less than boiling water poured
straight into a cold tea pot. I know you're supposed to warm the pot,
but we're a normal household and that doesn't happen every time.
SpamTrapSeeSig
writes
It's that niggling feeling that, since I've almost made it boil in the
past, I should have worked out that it might happen and been more
careful.
As posted elsewhere, I think the thickness of the glaze might have been
a factor - boiling water doesn't seem to bother our teapot.
Jerry Built
> > [ From: Message-ID: <cdnvdm$3ri$1$8300...@news.demon.co.uk> ]
> > I would in fact do the folwing.
> > Tip half the power or crytals int the loo, and follow up with
> > a kettle of boiling water, making sure that any splashes and
> > hisses happen inside. Best way to enbsure that is to slap a
> > sheet of something like polystyrene over the top of it all
> > till the witches cauldron ceases. Wipe up any splashes on
> > anything with copious cold water.
> >
> > Then have a cup of coffee.
> >
> >Then come back and flush the loo.
> >
> > If it even drains sklightly this caustc will generally clear
> > it BUT.
Well, that was the first post. The post following (Message-ID:
<cerc0n$san$3$830f...@news.demon.co.uk>):
> Well it worked for me. I protect eyes, but the odd caustic burn
> on the skin is no big deal. Just wash with water and there you
> are. Nice shiny patch of skin.
>
> If you are stupid enough to leave caustic unattended tho, you
> deserve what you get.
>
> Cearmics will crack if you put boiling water in them.
>
> I flush it down as soon as it starts to boil, and generally have
> hot water in there first to get the bowl up to temp.
paints quite a different picture, flushing immediately
instead of "having a cup of coffee", warming the pan,
flushing immediately, dah de dah. This idea seems like
a complete flight of fancy, and a very dangerous one to
suggest, at that.
The best thing to clear your lavatory is a thing called
a "plumber", then you won't get your hands dirty (or all
the skin burnt off them). If you don't fancy this, a good
second line of attack is rubber plunger, or a bucket of
water tipped down from a height. A drain auger ("snake"),
is a good idea if that fails, and is a long flexible metal
thing like a thick piece of bicycle brake cable or net
curtain stretch hanger, whatever that's called, I can't
remember. You push it down the U bend, and crank it around.
J.B.
The Natural Philosopher
And when that all fails, follow my advice.
God some of you lot are seriously dumb and pompous with it aren't you?
Children of the Nanny state to a 'T'
> J.B.
>
Jerry Built
> > [ snip ]
> God some of you lot are seriously dumb and pompous with it
> aren't you?
No. Just not effing stupid, that's all.
J.B.