Comments on: How to Remove Plaster of Paris from Cement http://www.howtocleanstuff.net/how-to-remove-plaster-of-paris-from-cement/ Wed, 23 May 2012 00:36:49 +0000 hourly 1 By: Daniel http://www.howtocleanstuff.net/how-to-remove-plaster-of-paris-from-cement/#comment-69101 Daniel Sat, 16 Jul 2011 14:44:30 +0000 http://www.howtocleanstuff.net/?p=2051#comment-69101 The recommendations here of how to dissolve or remove Plaster of Paris is completely wrong, but only is information borrowed from other sites on the internet where they really don't have clue either. I finally discovered the simple answer through extensive experiments. I did lots of experiments with all kinds of acids, both dilute and concentrate, under many conditions and determined that acids DO NOT dissolve Plaster of Paris in any way, but sometimes make it harder. The chemicals which dissolve Plaster of Paris are on the basic end of the PH scale, not acid. I first had some success with potassium cyanide, but what really worked better than anything is Sodium Bicarbonate. Makes sense. The sodium in baking soda hooks up with sulfur in the plaster, and the carbon hooks up with the calcium in the plaster. TO BEST DISSOLVE PLASTER OF PARIS PLACE IT IN WARM WATER WITH LOTS OF BAKING SODA. Don't use any acids or it will only defeat the process. Now what really amazes me is that the answer is so simple and safe, and surely some people must know it, but it apparently cannot be found on the internet, until now. The recommendations here of how to dissolve or remove Plaster of Paris is completely wrong, but only is information borrowed from other sites on the internet where they really don’t have clue either. I finally discovered the simple answer through extensive experiments.

I did lots of experiments with all kinds of acids, both dilute and concentrate, under many conditions and determined that acids DO NOT dissolve Plaster of Paris in any way, but sometimes make it harder.

The chemicals which dissolve Plaster of Paris are on the basic end of the PH scale, not acid. I first had some success with potassium cyanide, but what really worked better than anything is Sodium Bicarbonate. Makes sense. The sodium in baking soda hooks up with sulfur in the plaster, and the carbon hooks up with the calcium in the plaster.

TO BEST DISSOLVE PLASTER OF PARIS PLACE IT IN WARM WATER WITH LOTS OF BAKING SODA.

Don’t use any acids or it will only defeat the process.

Now what really amazes me is that the answer is so simple and safe, and surely some people must know it, but it apparently cannot be found on the internet, until now.

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