"Dave" wrote in message
...
On Wed, 30 Jul 2008 06:58:45 -0400, said:
Vinegar is greatly diluted acetic acid. Something around 5% acidity.
Acetic acid
can also be 20%, 50%,100%, or anything in between, all which might
surprise you
with their effects on metals including stainless.
Where does one buy the higher concentrations? I'm looking for something to
apply to the aluminum stanchion bases in order to get loose the stainless
bolts securing the stanchions to the bases. Might the higher
concentrations
of acetic be what I'm looking for?
I would not slosh strong acid of any sort around anything on your boat as
you never know where it will seep down and end up.
I would first heat the bolt with one of those precision small burners you
can attach to a can of gas. The bolt will expand but the aluminium will
expand more and this should break the bond and make extraction easier. You
can get really precise flames with the right sort of burner so it will
concentrate the heat where you want it and not damage the surroundings..