CLR

[oedipoes]

could you translate CLR ?
Are we talking about Mercedes Benz cars?

Thx

[Alex C]

CLR is pretty caustic. I would not adivse using it on a horn.

If you want to clean your valves (rotary or piston) soap and water with an instrument scrub brush is always good but if you want more... soak the valves in white vinegar for an hour or so. It's a mildly caustic and shouldn't hurt them.

Use CLR in the bathroom, not your horn.

[tubaguy9]

As far as the valves themselves...I don't think it harms the pistons. It doesn't harm those types of materials.
As far as rotor valves...Use Vinegar. CLR doesn't work well for those.
If using on the horn...Go ahead. Doesn't harm it...
Ask me more if you want to know more...I can find it out fairly easily.

[Kevin Hendrick]

Use CLR in the bathroom, not your horn.

... unless you have one of these:

[iiipopes]

Remember, in diluted form, CLR was invented to clean coffee pots. So I can't imagine that in its diluted form it is harmful.

[imperialbari]

CLR is a household cleaning agent. It stands for calcium, lime, and rust.

Which benefits would calcium, lime, and rust bring to any brass instrument?

K

[Rick Denney]

CLR is pretty caustic. I would not adivse using it on a horn.

If you want to clean your valves (rotary or piston) soap and water with an instrument scrub brush is always good but if you want more... soak the valves in white vinegar for an hour or so. It's a mildly caustic and shouldn't hurt them.

Use CLR in the bathroom, not your horn.

CLR is just a mixture of water-soluble organic acids, from my reading of the MSDS. I doubt that it's any stronger than the chromic or other acids used by repair technicians. The stuff the pros use is quite difficult to buy at the consumer level, but CLR is in the grocery store.

As with any acid, it will eventually eat the metal. Keep an eye on it. Follow the instructions. If the instructions measure exposure in seconds rather than minutes, dilute it several times as much as the instructions specify.

It should not hurt valves. Whether nickel plated brass, monel, or stainless steel, they are made of the same stuff bathroom fixtures are made of, and CLR doesn't hurt those when used with care. But be sure to remove all felts first, and then rinse the acid off thoroughly.

White vinegar also works, because it is a weak acetic acid solution. But it's very weak and therefore it will take a lot longer. It also must be rinsed thoroughly.

I would clean the instrument with Dawn dish soap first to remove grease, slime, and dirt. Then, I would soak it for the prescribed time in the weak acid to remove calcium deposits in the instrument. Finally, I would rinse it thoroughly and then wash it again in dish detergent to make sure all the acid is washed away.

Rick "whose Miraphone is showing calcium deposists and needs the acid treatment" Denney

[Eupher6]

CLR is pretty caustic. I would not adivse using it on a horn.

If you want to clean your valves (rotary or piston) soap and water with an instrument scrub brush is always good but if you want more... soak the valves in white vinegar for an hour or so. It's a mildly caustic and shouldn't hurt them.

Use CLR in the bathroom, not your horn.

Um, a small point here from the chemistry world, but one that perhaps should be mentioned.

The word "caustic" is generally used to describe a base. An extreme example of a base (and one that definitely should NOT ever be used on a horn) is lye or sodium hydroxide. On the pH scale (0 to 14), it's up there at about 13.8 or so and it's the kind of stuff that will hurt you and your horn beyond bad.

Acids are at the other end of the pH scale. As has been mentioned, vinegar is a relatively weak acidic solution at around pH 3.

Somebody else has already consulted the MSDS for CLR, so I have no doubt that it is an acid solution. Works pretty well on getting rid of those calcium deposits on pipes!

As for cleaning my horns, I think I'll stick to Dawn. When the horns need an acid dip, they go to the shop.

As Clint says, "A man has to know his limitations." I'm gonna let the pros deal with mixing acids and my horns.

[sloan]

Acids are at the other end of the pH scale. As has been mentioned, vinegar is a relatively weak acidic solution at around pH 3.

Somebody else has already consulted the MSDS for CLR, so I have no doubt that it is an acid solution.

MSDS says....pH: 1.30-1.50

Ingredients: Water (70-81% by weight), Lactic Acid(15-20%), Gluconic Acid(2-4%), Lauryldimethyl Hydroxysultaine(1-4%), Propylene Glycol Normal Butyl Ether(1-2%). The second and last ingredients rate citing as "OSHA HAZARD".

For the consumer, the most important warning is: DO NOT MIX WITH BLEACH, OR ANY OTHER PRODUCT.

Don't bathe in it, swallow it, sniff it. In case of accident, add water...LOTS of water.

If swallowed, drink 16oz water and DO NOT INDUCE VOMITING. If inhaled and breathing is impaired, GET MEDICAL ATTENTION IMMEDIATELY.

Looks safe enough for "spray, wipe, rinse, repeat". If you contemplate POURING it, know what you are doing.

[Dan Schultz]

CLR isn't going to destroy your horn. But NOT cleaning your horn sure as heck will! CLR is not caustic... it's a mild acid... very similar what I use every day to clean horns (sulfamic acid and a surfactant). Are you gonna leave it in CLR overnight? I would hope not. As with any chemical, use a little common sense. Don't use anything except dishwashing liquid and warm water unless you see 'whitish' mineral deposits. Then... IF you choose to use CLR, use it only until you see that the mineral deposits are gone. Do your research. Be safe. If you aren't sure what you are doing... take your horn to someone who does.