ABF Safety and Recipe

[Ne2]

I spend a lot of time cutting and grinding glass in order to get a clean fire polish. (220 grit resin bond blade and then a 300 grit lap wheel). I am hoping to use Ammonium Bifluoride to eliminate the need for grinding.

What concentrations do you use when mixing the solution?

I have a good understanding of the dangers involved, but would appreciate any extra input. Please help educate me so that I dont do anything stupid.

David

[EFS]

Ok so already know this stuff is dangerous which is good. To be honest with you i have worked sample pieces that were dipped in abf and they were not any better than cutting and rubbing cut end on one of those green scrubby pads you buy at grocery store. If you want perfect ends you have to flame cut or use hydrocloric acid which is uber nasty stuff. I just cut, rub on green scrubby pad and then heat slowly with a super propane rich flame and get bubble free ends ready for welds

[gn0me]

^ get it warm slowly, and once it's hot you can be more aggressive. Rinse the piece thoroughly before polishing it.... From what I've read, ABF is more for cleaning the saw blades themselves than the glass afterward. If you get a bunch of white scuzz, the glass wasn't hot enough before putting the edge in the flame.

[akmewon]

fwiw i have had luck with this on my facets... and BE VERY CAREFULL WITH IT...it is really nasty stuff
http://www.amazon.com/Armour-Etch-Glass-Etching-Cream/dp/B001BE3UM4

[Swampy]

How do you neutralise it and how do you dispose of it?

[somewhere]

Everyone mixes it different. Use google for recipes. We use acid, water, castor sugar (thickener) and food coloring for identification. Make sure to store it in a container that has a screw lid not a pop off lid. We have a short 5 gallon bucket with a screw lid and a large plastic basin.
You are making hydrfloric acid just in a more stable form. Treat it the same as using HF (very careful with full protective gear) this can kill you and will probably be the most dangerous tool in your shop.
This is for the glass only. if you put it in your blade it will just eat it alive. The idea is it will eat any impurities leaving only clean glass to seal.
To dispose of neutralize useing liberal amounts of sodium bicarbonate rending the acid inert. Also good idea to keep a bag of lime (agriculture grade works) to neutralize a spill if needed.

Don't even think about it if you don't have a locked chemical storage area the right protective gear ( gloves, goggles, full jacket) a place to neutralize and rinse the glass. We destroyed a resturant stainless steel sink. You need a large plastic sink. I'm sure I'm not covering everything if your not willing to do the research, know what your using and how to use it stop now.

[Ne2]

Thanks for your input...

Any idea if ABF reacts differently to colored glass? Or should it only be used on clear?