I haven't used any of the non-acid types like Evaporust, but I've spent a lot of time looking into what's in the others as well as some off the shelf products that can be substituted. Prices are retail per gallon without shipping and YMMV. Shipping is usually going to add a big hazmat fee. % is concentration of phosphoric acid.
$13, 20-46% H
3PO
4 in Home Depot Eagle Etch & Clean (strange range on the % there but that averages 33%)
$13, 35-40% in Krud Kutter Clean & Etch.
Most other concrete etchers fall into the < $15 / gal range.
$25, 40% in PH-OSPHO-RIC PLUS.
$40 , 36% in Miracle Sealants Phosphoric Acid Cleaner
$45 , 36-40% in Ospho.
Most other products marketed for cars fall into this range. Overpriced direct marketing to a niche From their website, the first one looks like a small or new startup trying to undercut the competition. Nothing wrong with that...
And then we have....
Picklex at $160+ per gallon, and the active ingredient? 40% H3PO4
Their website with its comparison to competitors is beyond misleading as well. They claim magical properties beyond anything else with the same ingredients. Basically, they're lying. Not to knock anyone who swears by this stuff, but we know exactly what's in it and you can swear by the others just as much.
Some others like Evaporust don't use acid at all, but the rest are the same. Same active ingredients, same concentrations, same benefits and drawbacks. 35-40% H
3PO
4 and the rest is water with a splash of surfactants which are water wetters. The phosphoric acid converts
exposed rust into iron phosphate and water. The surfactants help it adhere and penetrate.
Hope this helps some of you out there.
Jason
