2 Dec
2003
2 Dec
'03
8:30 a.m.
Hi folks,
Whilst getting an old Videomaster pong ready for sale (even though I know
nobody will buy it) I discovered it still had its batteries in from the last
time it was used - 1970s by the looks of the batteries - and they'd
naturally leaked all over the place.
I've tried standard Foamcleaner (anti static, natch) to remove the lovely
brown stuff but it's not having any of it. Any tips for removal of this
stuff without scratching the plastic too much?
cheers,
--
adrian/witchy
www.binarydinosaurs.co.uk - the online computer museum
www.snakebiteandblack.co.uk - ex-monthly gothic shenanigans :o(
1 Dec
1 Dec
11:17 a.m.
I use Muriatic Acid for cleaning (alkaline) battery residue ... a drop
at a time :). It works wonders on cleaning most of the residue. Try a
drop and see if you get a good foam reaction. If so, then it will most
likely do the job. In any case, it shouldn't hurt the plastic.
For quite a while, I had a small bottle of Acid Flux that was basically
Muriatic Acid, and it worked like a charm.
Witchy wrote:
Hi folks,
Whilst getting an old Videomaster pong ready for sale (even though I know
nobody will buy it) I discovered it still had its batteries in from the last
time it was used - 1970s by the looks of the batteries - and they'd
naturally leaked all over the place.
I've tried standard Foamcleaner (anti static, natch) to remove the lovely
brown stuff but it's not having any of it. Any tips for removal of this
stuff without scratching the plastic too much?
cheers,
--
adrian/witchy
www.binarydinosaurs.co.uk - the online computer museum
www.snakebiteandblack.co.uk - ex-monthly gothic shenanigans :o(
11:38 a.m.
In message <EAELLACDNKNOEIOECBEEEEOIECAA.witchy(a)binarydinosaurs.co.uk>
"Witchy" <witchy(a)binarydinosaurs.co.uk> wrote:
time it was used - 1970s by the looks of the batteries
- and they'd
naturally leaked all over the place.
Ugh! Nasty :-/
I've tried standard Foamcleaner (anti static,
natch) to remove the lovely
brown stuff but it's not having any of it. Any tips for removal of this
stuff without scratching the plastic too much?
You could try using a bit of white
vinegar, followed by isopropyl alcohol
(90% or better preferably). The idea is, the vinegar should neutralise the
gunk and hopefully loosen it a bit. The IPA removes any residue from the
vinegar, along with the remains of the battery electrolyte.
Later.
--
Phil. | Acorn Risc PC600 Mk3, SA202, 64MB, 6GB,
philpem(a)dsl.pipex.com | ViewFinder, Ethernet (Acorn AEH62),
http://www.philpem.dsl.pipex.com/ | 8xCD, framegrabber, Teletext
Strike any user when ready.
2 Dec
2 Dec
4:34 a.m.
The BEST thing for leaky batteries is a product called "Lime-Away". It's
sold in grocery stores and is used to remove stains caused by hard water.
Get the liquid stuff, not the gell. Put it on full strength a wait a few
minutes then wash/brush it off. It won't harm plastics. The main ingediant
is phosphoric acid and it will leave a phosphate coating on some metals.
The phosphate coating is similar to parkerizing and will help prevent
future corrosion. It's by far the best thing I've found for corroded
batteries.
I'm not sure if they sell Lime-Away in the UK but they must sell
something similar. Try it and let me know how it works for you.
Joe
At 07:30 PM 12/2/03 +0000, you wrote:
Hi folks,
Whilst getting an old Videomaster pong ready for sale (even though I know
nobody will buy it) I discovered it still had its batteries in from the last
time it was used - 1970s by the looks of the batteries - and they'd
naturally leaked all over the place.
I've tried standard Foamcleaner (anti static, natch) to remove the lovely
brown stuff but it's not having any of it. Any tips for removal of this
stuff without scratching the plastic too much?
cheers,
--
adrian/witchy
www.binarydinosaurs.co.uk - the online computer museum
www.snakebiteandblack.co.uk - ex-monthly gothic shenanigans :o(
6:49 a.m.
On Tue, 2 Dec 2003, Joe wrote:
The BEST thing for leaky batteries is a product
called "Lime-Away".
It's sold in grocery stores and is used to remove stains caused by hard
water. Get the liquid stuff, not the gell. Put it on full strength a
wait a few minutes then wash/brush it off. It won't harm plastics. The
main ingediant is phosphoric acid and it will leave a phosphate coating
on some metals. The phosphate coating is similar to parkerizing and will
help prevent future corrosion. It's by far the best thing I've found for
corroded batteries.
I'm assuming that CLR ("Calcium, Lime, Rust") is also good? Or is the
"Calcium-Rust" component of the formula not good for plastics?
--
Sellam Ismail Vintage Computer Festival
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
International Man of Intrigue and Danger http://www.vintage.org
[ Old computing resources for business || Buy/Sell/Trade Vintage Computers ]
[ and academia at www.VintageTech.com || at http://marketplace.vintage.org ]
7:43 a.m.
At 09:49 AM 12/2/03 -0800, you wrote:
On Tue, 2 Dec 2003, Joe wrote:
I THINK I tried CLR but found that it had less Phosphoric acid and
didn't work as well as Lime-Away. I tried several different brands of
cleaners and that was the case with most of them. I doubt any phosphoric
acid product would hurt any plastics.
Joe
The BEST thing for leaky batteries is a
product called "Lime-Away".
It's sold in grocery stores and is used to remove stains caused by hard
water. Get the liquid stuff, not the gell. Put it on full strength a
wait a few minutes then wash/brush it off. It won't harm plastics. The
main ingediant is phosphoric acid and it will leave a phosphate coating
on some metals. The phosphate coating is similar to parkerizing and will
help prevent future corrosion. It's by far the best thing I've found for
corroded batteries.
I'm assuming that CLR ("Calcium, Lime, Rust") is also good? Or is the
"Calcium-Rust" component of the formula not good for plastics?
--
Sellam Ismail Vintage Computer
Festival
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
---
International Man of Intrigue and Danger
http://www.vintage.org
[ Old computing resources for business || Buy/Sell/Trade Vintage Computers
]
[ and academia at www.VintageTech.com || at
http://marketplace.vintage.org ]
7:38 a.m.
[...] a product called "Lime-Away". [...]
The main ingediant is
phosphoric acid
How cheap is it? How does it compare to Coke, in particular? Coke has
sugar and caffiene mixed in, but also has a good deal of phosophoric
acid in it. (I'm assuming, of course, plenty of water rinse
afterwards.)
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8:16 a.m.
At 01:38 PM 12/2/03 -0500, you wrote:
I bought a 28 oz bottle at Walmart a couple of weeks ago. I think it was
about $3.79. 28ozs will last a LONG time. I used the stuff four or five
times/day when I was working on calculators (and used occasionally around
the house) and one bottle lasted for a couple of years. (PS also found that
it good for cleaning china and silver ware.)
How does it compare to Coke, in particular?
Coke doesn't even come close! The next best thing that I found was
Hydrogen Peroxide. The normal 3% solution works (somewhat) but I have a
neighbor that is a hair dresser and she gave me some that she says is 30%
and it works much better. However I don't think it's anywhere close to 30%.
I once threw a grain of Potassium Permanganate in about 1/4" of 30% H2O2
and I KNOW how reactive it can be! I think the stuff that she has is
actually about 5 or 10%.
Coke has
[...] a
product called "Lime-Away". [...] The main ingediant is
phosphoric acid
How cheap is it? sugar and caffiene mixed in, but also has a good deal
of phosophoric
acid in it.
I don't think coke has but a trace of phosphoric acid. I think the main
ingrediant (besides water) is carbonic acid (CO2 and water). Phosphorus is
some NASTY stuff. It's used in rat poison and I've seen the skeletons of
animals that have ingested it. It causes the bones to litterally crumble
away. I do my best not to get it on my skin and I always rinse VERY well
after using it.
(I'm assuming, of course, plenty of water rinse
afterwards.)
Yes. The liguid stuff rinses away with no trouble. FWIW, I'd rather use
ANYTHING than a product containing sugar. I've seen too many gummed up
keybaords from spilled Coke and coffee. Sugar can be surprisingly hard to
remove.
BTW phosphoric acid is widely used by janitorial services for cleaning.
I don't know the exact strength of the stuff they use but I think it's
pretty strong. If you know somebody in that trade you might be able to get
some from them and try it. If you do, I'd like to know how it works.
Joe
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8:49 a.m.
New subject: OT: Coke (was: leaky batteries!
What is the pH of Coke?
Coke has
>sugar and caffiene mixed in, but also has a good deal of phosophoric
>acid in it.
On Tue, 2 Dec 2003, Joe wrote:
I don't think coke has but a trace of
phosphoric acid. I think the main
ingrediant (besides water) is carbonic acid (CO2 and water).
"carbonic acid" is water with CO2 in suspension??
"Carbonated water, high fructose corn syrup and/or glucose (formerly
SUGAR), caramel color, natural flavors, phosphoric acid, and caffeine"
even Jolt doesn't have much phosphoric acid.
BTW: "Mythbusters" is a fun show to watch, but they are clueless about
experimental procedures.
Yes. The liguid stuff rinses away with no trouble.
FWIW, I'd rather use
ANYTHING than a product containing sugar. I've seen too many gummed up
keybaords from spilled Coke and coffee. Sugar can be surprisingly hard to
remove.
I have always reassured my programming students that nothing that they
accidentally enter through the keyboard of their computers would actually
DAMAGE the computer. One wiseguy said, "I entered a Pepsi."
Coke and Pepsi seem similar in composition, but Pepsi has more of a
history:
After Three Mile Island, Saturday Night Live postulated
that it was caused by "The Pepsi Syndrome", the result of
spilling a Pepsi into a computer keyboard.
Shortly after that, the U.S.A. and USSR (CCCP) normalized
diplomatic relations enough to import vodka and export
Pepsi to Russia.
That was followed almost immediately by Chernobyl.
Surely that could not be coincidence!
Until their recent bailout, Apple computers ride into
failure was with a former Pepsi exedcutive at the helm.
Coincidence?
Ever since we banned Pepsi from the college computer lab,
we have not had any meltdowns.
9:08 a.m.
New subject: OT: Coke (was: leaky batteries!
And thusly Fred Cisin spake:
"carbonic acid" is water with CO2 in suspension??
"Carbonated water, high fructose corn syrup and/or glucose (formerly
SUGAR), caramel color, natural flavors, phosphoric acid, and caffeine"
even Jolt doesn't have much phosphoric acid.
useless information: In Canada, all of the non-diet pop has sugar, not
high fructose corn syrup...
Cheers,
Bryan Pope
9:26 a.m.
New subject: OT: Coke (was: leaky batteries!
On Tue, 2 Dec 2003, Bryan Pope wrote:
Why?
Peace... Sridhar
"carbonic
acid" is water with CO2 in suspension??
"Carbonated water, high fructose corn syrup and/or glucose (formerly
SUGAR), caramel color, natural flavors, phosphoric acid, and caffeine"
even Jolt doesn't have much phosphoric acid.
useless information: In Canada, all of the non-diet pop has sugar, not
high fructose corn syrup...
9:27 a.m.
New subject: OT: Coke (was: leaky batteries!
And thusly vance(a)neurotica.com spake:
On Tue, 2 Dec 2003, Bryan Pope wrote:
Why?
I am not sure... I was told once that it has something to do with protecting
the local US natural sweetener industry. So it's probably cheaper to use
the high fructose corn syrup instead of sugar here.
Cheers,
Bryan
"carbonic acid" is water with CO2 in suspension??
"Carbonated water, high fructose corn syrup and/or glucose (formerly
SUGAR), caramel color, natural flavors, phosphoric acid, and caffeine"
even Jolt doesn't have much phosphoric acid.
useless information: In Canada, all of the non-diet pop has sugar, not
high fructose corn syrup...
10:53 a.m.
New subject: OT: Coke (was: leaky batteries!
At 03:26 PM 12/2/03 -0500, you wrote:
On Tue, 2 Dec 2003, Bryan Pope wrote:
Why?
Probably because Canada grows more sugar beets (the main source of
refined sugar) than corn.
Joe
"carbonic acid" is water with CO2 in suspension??
"Carbonated water, high fructose corn syrup and/or glucose (formerly
SUGAR), caramel color, natural flavors, phosphoric acid, and caffeine"
even Jolt doesn't have much phosphoric acid.
useless information: In Canada, all of the non-diet pop has sugar, not
high fructose corn syrup... 
2 Dec
2 Dec
9:25 a.m.
New subject: OT: Coke (was: leaky batteries!
On Tue, 2 Dec 2003, Fred Cisin wrote:
"carbonic acid" is water with CO2 in
suspension??
No. Not in suspension. In solution.
CO2 + H2O --> H2CO3 (Carbonic Acid)
Just like:
SO3 + H2O --> H2SO4 (Sulphuric Acid)
Peace... Sridhar
10:02 a.m.
New subject: OT: Coke (was: leaky batteries!
I sincerely hope this thread somehow turns to show it's relationship to
classic computers :>
----- Original Message -----
From: <vance(a)neurotica.com>
To: "Fred Cisin" <cisin(a)xenosoft.com>
Cc: "General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts"
<cctalk(a)classiccmp.org>
Sent: Tuesday, December 02, 2003 2:25 PM
Subject: Re: OT: Coke (was: leaky batteries!
On Tue, 2 Dec 2003, Fred Cisin wrote:
---
[This E-mail scanned for viruses by Declude Virus]
"carbonic acid" is water with CO2 in
suspension??
No. Not in suspension. In solution.
CO2 + H2O --> H2CO3 (Carbonic Acid)
Just like:
SO3 + H2O --> H2SO4 (Sulphuric Acid)
Peace... Sridhar
3 Dec
3 Dec
11:20 a.m.
New subject: OT: Coke (was: leaky batteries!
-----Original Message-----
From: cctalk-bounces(a)classiccmp.org
[mailto:cctalk-bounces@classiccmp.org]On Behalf Of Jay West
Sent: 02 December 2003 21:03
To: General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts
Subject: Re: OT: Coke (was: leaky batteries!
I sincerely hope this thread somehow turns to show it's relationship to
classic computers :>
Sorry about that, but I've got a classic Pong to clean :)
w
2 Dec
2 Dec
10:50 a.m.
New subject: OT: Coke (was: leaky batteries!
At 11:49 AM 12/2/03 -0800, you wrote:
What is the pH of Coke?
No, it's the reaction product between water and CO2.
The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. 2001.
carbonic acid
H2CO3, a weak dibasic acid (see acids and bases) formed when carbon dioxide
dissolves in water; it exists only in solution. Carbonic acid forms
carbonate and bicarbonate (or acid carbonate) salts (see carbonate) by
reaction with bases. It contributes to the sharp taste of carbonated
beverages.
Joe
Coke has
>sugar and caffiene mixed in, but also has a good deal of phosophoric
>acid in it.
On Tue, 2 Dec 2003, Joe wrote:
I don't think coke has but a trace of
phosphoric acid. I think the main
ingrediant (besides water) is carbonic acid (CO2 and water).
"carbonic acid" is water with CO2 in suspension??
9:55 p.m.
New subject: OT: Coke (was: leaky batteries!
[cisin(a)xenosoft.com]
"carbonic acid" is water with CO2 in
suspension??
[vance(a)neurotica.com]
No. Not in suspension. In solution.
It's not quite a solution in the usual sense of the word. More like a
reaction product - but it's one which is fairly close to balanced
energically and thus can run either way with relative ease, either
H2O+CO2->H2CO3 or H2CO3->H2O+CO2. (Most reactions run both ways in
theory, but with a large energy difference that makes it easy to run
one way and hard the other. An example is NaOH+HCl = H2O+NaCl+heat,
with the "heat" term large enough, especially compared to the
activation energy, that it's _hard_ to make salt water disassociate
into caustic soda and hydrochloric acid.)
Amazing where things can go when you start talking about, oh, say,
cleaning up after leaky batteries.
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10:16 p.m.
New subject: OT: Coke (was: leaky batteries!
From: "der Mouse" <mouse(a)rodents.montreal.qc.ca>
Amazing where things can go when you start talking
about, oh, say,
cleaning up after leaky batteries.
Yeah, it's almost as "bad" as in alt.folklore.computers, where off-topic
(rather: thread drift) is the rule. All those old farts (including me) must
have lots of time on their hands :-)
Nico
8:55 a.m.
On Tue, 2 Dec 2003, Joe wrote:
Coke has
Phosphorus is toxic (white Phosphorus, the kind that used to be used
in rat poison, is especially toxic) but Phosphoric acid is not toxic (though
it is a strong acid so a concentrated solution _will_ burn you)
I would guess that Coca Colas main tartness comes from Phosporic acid
so it must have a fair amount (PH 2.5 - 3)
In the olden days you could get a "Cherry Phosphate" at the Soda
Fountain. These are made tart by adding a few drops of concentrated
Phosphoric acid...
Peter Wallace
sugar and caffiene mixed in, but also has a good
deal of phosophoric
acid in it.
I don't think coke has but a trace of phosphoric acid. I think the main
ingrediant (besides water) is carbonic acid (CO2 and water). Phosphorus is
some NASTY stuff. It's used in rat poison and I've seen the skeletons of
animals that have ingested it. It causes the bones to litterally crumble
away. I do my best not to get it on my skin and I always rinse VERY well
after using it.
9:21 a.m.
On Tue, 2 Dec 2003, der Mouse wrote:
The concentration of H3PO4 in Coke is significantly lower than in
Lime-Away.
Peace... Sridhar
[...] a
product called "Lime-Away". [...] The main ingediant is
phosphoric acid
How cheap is it? How does it compare to Coke, in particular? Coke has
sugar and caffiene mixed in, but also has a good deal of phosophoric
acid in it. (I'm assuming, of course, plenty of water rinse
afterwards.)
7487
days inactive
7488
days old
22 comments
13 participants
participants (13)
-
bfranchuk＠jetnet.ab.ca -
bpope＠wordstock.com -
cisin＠xenosoft.com -
jwest＠classiccmp.org -
marvin＠rain.org -
mouse＠Rodents.Montreal.QC.CA -
nico＠farumdata.dk -
pcw＠mesanet.com -
philpem＠dsl.pipex.com -
rigdonj＠cfl.rr.com -
vance＠neurotica.com -
vcf＠siconic.com -
witchy＠binarydinosaurs.co.uk