[Cob] Please heed dangers of quicklime

[Amanda Peck]

I've always thought that quicklime was also spelled "don't try this at 
home."

Hydrated lime is bad enough when you pour the dry powder into water.  The 
powder goes everywhere.  But it only takes a minute so I figure I can get by 
without a dust mask or respirator.  Bad idea.  Especially if I have lung 
problems.  And I've cracked the skin on my hand a couple of times finishing 
concrete without gloves.  Concrete is high in lime.

In my large and sparsely populated county there are no sellers of hydrated 
lime.  In the county to the south, with shopping centers and big box 
hardware stores, if anyone sells it I haven't found them, and I looked hard, 
a couple of years ago.  Actually that's not true--in the summer the grocery 
store sells food grade lime for pickling purposes in relatively expensive 
2-pound bags or boxes.  Not much use for building.  The Mexican Indians who 
made their own tortillas from whole corn bought their lime in 50 pound bags 
labeled "not for human consumption."

But the TSC (Tractor Supply Company--good-sized nationwide I think chain 
store) in the county to the east can get it, stocks it seasonally--spring.

And for some reason the farmer's CO-OP in the tiny county to the north seems 
to have hydrated lime all the time.  Ours doesn't.  The one in the county to 
the south doesn't.  Didn't get around to trying the west side.

Horse people use it a lot, to sweeten stalls.
..................
Ocean replies to Anenhaienton (both snipped):

An important difference to note:  hydrated lime and "quick" lime are 
completely different materials.

Calcium Hydroxide or "hydrated lime" (CaH2O2) can be mixed into concrete, or 
mixed with sand and water to form mortar - a relatively safe procedure, 
though the caustic nature of this lime must be observed.  (Don't allow wet 
hydrated lime mixtures to make contact with unprotected skin, eyes, etc.)

I am wondering if anyone can tell me where I
>can buy quick lime or hydrated lime suitable for
>making plaster.


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