Source for oxalic acid

[Dale Genther]

Anyone know of an on-line source for oxalic acid crystals? It used to be in Hamiltom Marine's catalog, but they no longer have it.

[Canoez]

How about your local paint or hardware store? I can find them locally as either crystals or pre-made solution.

Alternately, how about Rockler, Woodcraft, etc?

[Popeye]

yup , any decent hardware store, paint and stain section

those deck and fence cleaners are typically oxalic acid sol'n , read the label

[Canoez]

yup , any decent hardware store, paint and stain section

those deck and fence cleaners are typically oxalic acid sol'n , read the label

That's true - and very often they are not quite as strong a solution which can be nice if you're not very experienced with using the Oxalic Acid - you can work sloooowwwwly.

[carlg]

From the grocery store: Zud. It says it "contains" Oxalic acid.

[Dale Genther]

I tried the local hardware/paint store, the Lowes, Home Depot, etc. They all used to have it but don't anymore mostly due to shipping/handling regulations. I'll check the labels on some of the other products mentioned above.

[Dale Genther]

I just ordered it from Rockler. Don't know why I didn't think of them as I buy quite a bit from them. Thanks all!

[Bob Cleek]

Some manufacturers have changed their package labeling. I suppose "oxalic ACID" may have scared some of the current generation of "chemo-paranoids" off. I've pretty much exclusively seen oxalic acid crystals marketed for the last ten years or so as "Wood Bleach." Sounds a lot more household user-friendly than "oxalic acid," doesn't it?

http://www.google.com/products?q=wood+bleach+oxalic+acid&rls=com.microsoft:en-us:IE-SearchBox&oe=UTF-8&sourceid=ie7&rlz=1I7ADBR_en&um=1&ie=UTF-8&ei=7qbUSu2XPIrSsQPxvKHDCg&sa=X&oi=product_result_group&ct=title&resnum=4&ved=0CB4QrQQwAw

[jonboy]

It is seriously poisonous, as little as 5gms ingested is fatal...though it was was once one of those common household chemicals that was at the back of the cupboard for removing iron stains from linen and suchlike...This could be why its hard to find over the counter these days...???

[Bob Cleek]

I wouldn't advise eating it or drinking it diluted in water, but, beyond that, it's about as acidic as vinegar if you mix it per the instructions. (You can vary the strength up to the point where no more crystals will dissolve in the water.)

HOWEVER.... WARNING!!!

One should wear rubber gloves when applying oxalic acid with a sponge or ScotchBrite pad. A small exposure isn't that big of a deal, but continuous soaking in it is a VERY BAD THING! What happens is that the acid soaks into the soft skin under the fingernails. You won't notice a thing while you are using it, but after a few hours, THE PAIN IS UNBELIEVEABLE! (Think bamboo splinters under the fingernails torture.) This pain will continue for several days and there is apparently NOTHING YOU CAN DO ABOUT IT. The throbbing will prevent sleep. Touching anything increases the pain. Every nerve in your fingertips will scream.

Don't ask me how I learned about this. LOL, but it 'twernt funny at the time.

[jonboy]

I'm not joking fellas.....Oxalic Acid ... and I quote from 'Chemicals in conservation a guide to their usage and hazards' ...HOOC.COOH:2H20....BLAH BLAH....
extremely poisonous .... SKIN chemical burns, gangrenous ulceration, may slowly enter body through skin..EYES corneal damage, burns, blindness, INHALATION..ulceration of respiratory tract, inflammation of mucous membranes....and goes on to include the runs, puking , bloody stools, death by intestinal haemorrhage

But then you could probably say that about bleach or gasoline or whisky in excess...

seriously though, don't mess with this gear unless you have to, and DON'T think it's just stronger than normal vinegar... it ain't.

[Hwyl]

Rhubarb

[Captain Blight]

Are you sure about the claim it is fatal ? What about fruits and vegetables that contain oxalic acid naturally ? I A kid in my hometown died from eating raw rhubarb, about fifteen years ago. Apparently it was a fatal three-day adventure in excruciating agony.

[paladin]

emla cream, available by perscription if your doctor even knows what it is, will stop the pain under the nails. It is a Lidocaine/prilocaine cream for external uses only. About $40 a tube at most places or as low as 15 at safeway if you tell them you don't have insurance.

[Nicholas Carey]

google finds these purveyors,

http://secure.sciencecompany.com/Oxalic-Acid-500g-P6371C670.aspx
$9.95 per 500g, lab grade

http://www.tripointpro.com/servlet/the-121/OXALIC-ACID/Detail
$145.75 per 25kg (made in China, you'll forgive me if I'm just a wee bit dubious about product quality :eek:)

I imagine any chemical supply house either has it or can get it.

[Dave Carnell]

<chemistrystore.com> has it. It's the leaves of rhubarb that contain it. There's a wonderful reason rhubarb stalks are also "pie plant".

[Seneca]

west marine used to carry it; i still have some from there.

[Bob Cleek]

emla cream, available by perscription if your doctor even knows what it is, will stop the pain under the nails. It is a Lidocaine/prilocaine cream for external uses only. About $40 a tube at most places or as low as 15 at safeway if you tell them you don't have insurance.

NOW you tell me! LOL

Damn, I don't think I've hurt that bad from anythng that I can remember. It went away after a few days, though and I'm still typing.

Oh, and another precaution. If you dip snuff, make sure you don't do it with any oxalic acid on your fingers. It tastes just awful and is really hard to get the metalic taste out of your mouth if you do. (Again, don't ask me how I know this!)

Look, guys, use a little common sense. Oxalic acid is not the stuff that they used to eat the flesh off bodies in the monster movies, and then again, it's not "harmless" either. Mixed as per the directions and applied with routine precautions, it is a "safe and sane" product. If everybody keeps wringing their hands about the "dangers" of (improperly) using every product on the market, we will soon find the "nanny state" outlawing just about everything that is useful, particularly when it comes to maintaining boats. Stupid is as stupid does. If you drink oxalic acid, don't blame the product for being "too dangerous" to have on the market.

[Dave Carnell]

<chemistrystore.com> is also a source for real TSP (trisodium phosphate) which is on the verge of extinction. I fortify my dishwashing and laundry detergents with it.

[gimmellsmom]

We sourced our oxolic acid directly from a chemical company in Mississagua, Ontario - Alphachem. 1 lb was in the neighbourhood of $20 if I recall.