#1 Etch Test for Glass

So you have bought a liquid wonder product for removing hard water deposits.  You have watched the manufacturers video on how to use it.  You have read the reviews and talked to other guys about how effective it is.  And now you're ready!  Hold on!  Please read and do this first.  Then every time you hear about another wonder product put it to the test.  This first test I discovered by accident.  Yet it is one of the most effective and simple tests.  No high tech instruments.  Just a 3M green pad, some magic tape, a mirror, flashlight, and a very dark room.

Take a one by one foot mirror plate.  Create a nice patch of scratches in the middle with your green pad.  Tape off one side of the patch to keep it dry.  Then apply the wonder product to only one half of the patch.  Do not let it contact the other side.  That is what the tape is for.  Give it a good thirty seconds to a minute.  Remove with soapy water, and squeegee.  Remove tape to reveal the rest of patch.  Next take your nice clean, dry mirror into a very dark room.  A bathroom without windows works well.  Look down the beam of the flashlight at the entire scratch patch.  If the product in question has any amount of acid that etches glass you will notice that the scratches that made contact with the product will be very noticeable compared to the scratches that were covered by the tape.

I have developed this test using pure acids such as hydrofluoric, sulfuric, and ammonium hydrofluoride.  Hydrofluoric worked well for me down to only 1%.  If you want to play with a reasl easy to get bad boy you might go to the local auto parts store.  Buy some battery acid.  This is essentially sufuric acid at a 37% concentration.  I got my pint for four bux!  You might have to pay up to seven.

This test also doubles as a test for crude silicas used in hard water stain removers that are rub on gels, or rubbing powders. It is done the same way.  Just substitute the 3M green pad for your product.  Rub in your powdered products using a damp sponge.  Also rub in your gel without water using a slightly damp 100% cellulose sponge.

Written by Henry Grover Jr

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