This post is 2+ years old, but it's not a horrible solution to use low grade HCL to clean glassware. The thing I DON"T know is how long to wait for it to evaporate before you can actually use it or if you even can at all.
Just because its hydrochloric acid doesn't mean it will be a good degreaser or a good solvent for that matter for caked on layers of residue from smoke. Alcohol is a great solvent, plus it wont irritate your skin, unless you had an idea for plugging both ends and hoping the plugs don't blow from the release of hydrogen gas, which you would need to vent out of course, which since you thought everything out so I am sure your little bathroom fan that listfully drags steam up should be good enough right? Fuck health concerns right? Or we can not be immature, and use alcohol with a course salt like sea salt and put a little damn effort into things instead of taking shortcuts and opting for the strong acid solvent. Plus we could use our hands to securely plug the bong since alcohol isn't nearly as harsh to the skin as HCl.
Haha so it is, and all I saw was he was going to do something incredibly dangerous and completly disregarding blades warnings against using hcl. I thought being harsh would make the point a little clearer since he wasn't getting it.
Can you explain why you think that 10% hydrochloric acid would ruin a bong made out of what I'd assume is borosilicate glass? It doesn't make a ton of sense. Borosilicate glass (the most commonly used silicate glass, for glassware of all kinds including laboratory glassware). This is because it does not react or break down easily under most circumstances and according to the American chemical society borosilicate glass containers are not only suitable to store hydrochloric acid but they are the recommended standard for almost all inorganic mineral-acids.
Given my knowledge of chemistry I would say while this does not pose a huge risk to your health if done correctly this method would also be extremely ineffective for the removal of buildup. Hydrochloric acid is a strong mineral acid but is not able to dissolve THC resin or combustion residue. IPA is a much much more effective solvent for THC and other cannabanoids than hydrochloric acid. If you really are keen there are some much stronger solvents out there that would fulfill your purpose but I don't think it would be a good idea.
