[Rockhounds] muriatic acid for cleaning...

[Rik Hill" <rhill at lpl.arizona.edu]

I don't know what your "finds" are but I have several comments. First, be very, very careful. That acid puts out nasty toxic fumes CO2. Make sure your ventilation is adequate (our outside is better) and don't get your face close to the work. It would be wise to dilute the acid. I almost never use Muriatic unless I have silicified fossils to remove. Mostly I use vinegar which is usually strong enough. 

I have used acids with a good deal of success but I stay with the work while it is soaking and for my fossils I usually scrub the work (with rubber gloves on) with a brass wire brush so the softer matrix material is removed preferentially. See my short write up at:
http://webmail.west.cox.net/do/mail/message/compose

-Rik