Official Luthiers Forum!

I have a metal trough for soaking sides/purfs/bindings prior to bending .There are a lot of nasty white crystalline looking deposits all over the bottom . What is the best way to dissolve and clean them. I had a similiar problem in st louis on a humidifier when large white clacium looking deposits would crud up everything Thanks

Never used it but there's a product called CLR that makes the claim.

Read the label. Some of these products can;not be used in certain metals.

Ordinarily these deposits are like limestone and acid will loosen or dissolve it.. A weak acid is vinegar. I soak humidifier wicks in vinegar, but I do that in a plastic dish.

You might keep these deposit to a minimum in a tray if you pour out all of the excess water and rinse it down after each use.

That/s the problem .I forget an leave the water in. Will try t vinegar . It/s too tricky to dumpout water in the bsmt from the metal trough. Thanks

I use distilled water for anything like that - for exactly that reason.

_________________
Steve Smith
"Music is what feelings sound like"

How large is the trough?
Use water from your dehumidifier in the trough it is virtually distilled water. I would prefer a plastic trough if that is workable.
I use dehumidifier water in my spray bottle for wetting sides for bending and for washing out glue brushes.
Good luck

Bob

T hanks gud idea use distilled water .I no longer have a humidifier. I spoke to a sawyer and he says to let the wood cycle through heat , dryness/humidity . etc. But cannot verify his theory . He has a kiln an bandsaw mill