Anybody use "Magic Salt"?

[Builder]

After using my salt spreader last night, I have to wash the whole rig down in the cold to keep corrosion down to a minimum. Salt is a real PITA. Then there's the customers who want none applied to their concrete driveways (can't blame them). Started thinking about alternatives and saw this. No idea of cost.

Magic Salt Distributor - Serving Bucks, Montgomery Counties - MagicSaltpa.net

 

[D33r3 6r33N]

I've never heard of it until now. I like the idea though. Seems like you could use it anywhere, like on your deck where you don't want to rust your screws out. I would be interested in it if they sold it in a more "homeowner size."

 

[Builder]

I've never heard of it until now. I like the idea though. Seems like you could use it anywhere, like on your deck where you don't want to rust your screws out. I would be interested in it if they sold it in a more "homeowner size."

I go through at least a pallet of salt a month (2,600lbs). Not enough to buy a truck load, but if this product can be dumped on the ground and unlike salt, not destroy the surrounding soil, maybe I could try to get a truck load? I'm almost out of bagged salt.

Something tells me it's gonna be 2-5X the cost of rocksalt. I get it for under $4/50 lb bag delivered to my shop, which seems like a good price for bagged salt.

 

[HHR]

I like the rust neutralizing aspect, but it must be expensive. Ten years ago a fifty pound bag of potassium chloride pellets was $5.50, last year it was $24.50.

 

[D33r3 6r33N]

Something tells me it's gonna be 2-5X the cost of rocksalt. I get it for under $4/50 lb bag delivered to my shop, which seems like a good price for bagged salt.

That sounds like a good price to me too. Expecially delivered. Do you think you would want to mix this stuff with sand or something or just spray it on there out of a truck?

 

[Johnbro]

don't kid yourself..it's salt plus magnesium chloride. The rest is not important. You can get an equivalent product called Sno-Melt.

dump enough of anything anywhere and there will be collateral damage. You can't make NaCl non-corrosive or magic by adding some small amount of anything else...

 

[Mace Canute]

don't kid yourself..it's salt plus magnesium chloride. The rest is not important. You can get an equivalent product called Sno-Melt.

dump enough of anything anywhere and there will be collateral damage. You can't make NaCl non-corrosive or magic by adding some small amount of anything else...

You mean it doesn't have Pixie Dust in it? Not any??? I'm shocked, I tell you! Shocked!!:shocked::shocked::shocked::shocked:

 

[Duffster]

Salt (sodium chloride) has no effect on concrete, Mag chloride does. I wouldn't use it.

 

[tulenutn2o]

Salt (sodium chloride) has no effect on concrete, Mag chloride does. I wouldn't use it.

Since when? If concrete is properly installed and sealed, maybe not, but I have seen a lot of damge done to driveways/sidewalks from salt usage.

 

[Duffster]

Since when? If concrete is properly installed and sealed, maybe not, but I have seen a lot of damge done to driveways/sidewalks from salt usage.

Sodium chloride is chemically harmless to concrete. Concrete is damaged from the thaw and refreeze of water. That can happen with or with out the use of deicer.

 

[crashz]

The salt in Magic Salt is just that. But its the added chemicals that give it the performance enhancement. I've used it and it mostly does what it says. I've seen it work with a pavement temp at 0 degress F. Dry salt works to about 27 degrees and dry Mag works to about 15, If my memory is correct. Liquids will bring those numbers down a bit.

I bought a few bags a few years ago and ran them through a walk behind spreader for side walks and small lot. It works very well, but leaves a residue. The residue works as a pre-treatment for the next storm.

I think my pricing for bagged Magic was like $12 per 50 lb bag at the time. Liquid treatment to bulk piles would be much cheaper.

If I had a few clients that required "clean & wet" lots and walks (like doctors and lawyer offices, etc) and are willing to pay for it, I'd use it. Most people won't pay for it though.

As far as corrosion protection, I don't know. I washed my spreader each time I used it and it rusted to pieces in two years. I did use regular salt and magnesium chloride in it as well though.

 

[tulenutn2o]

Sodium chloride is chemically harmless to concrete. Concrete is damaged from the thaw and refreeze of water. That can happen with or with out the use of deicer.

I thought I said proper install and sealing of the concrete. Would you agree then that salt can help accelerate the breakdown of the concrete? Salt draws water,melts ice, and the said freezing breaks up the concrete. Salt helps this process along

 

[Duffster]

I thought I said proper install and sealing of the concrete. Would you agree then that salt can help accelerate the breakdown of the concrete? Salt draws water,melts ice, and the said freezing breaks up the concrete. Salt helps this process along

Used properly it will slow it down.

 

[Duffster]

Pick your poison:

PCA - Cement & Concrete Technology

Deicing Salt and Concrete

Lots of misinformation from "ask the builder".

 

[tulenutn2o]

Then it would only be classified as a catalyst.

Regardless of the definition, damage is done through the use of salt. Whether through poor concrete, poor install, poor use of chemical, whatever. U can mince worlds all you want, but to tell people that salt does no damage, or does not facilitate damage, is blatantly false.

 

[Duffster]

Regardless of the definition, damage is done through the use of salt. Whether through poor concrete, poor install, poor use of chemical, whatever. U can mince worlds all you want, but to tell people that salt does no damage, or does not facilitate damage, is blatantly false.

False how so? Salt has NO effect on the concrete. The salt effects water/ice. Water and ice effects concrete not salt.

Poor concrete will disintegrate with or with out the use of deicer.

 

[tulenutn2o]

False how so? Salt has NO effect on the concrete. The salt effects water/ice. Water and ice effects concrete not salt.

Poor concrete will disintegrate with or with out the use of deicer.

Did u miss the word facilitate? Technically wood doesn't burn either, but is universally understood that it does put off heat.

 

[Duffster]

Did u miss the word facilitate?

No. .....

Technically wood doesn't burn either, but is universally understood that it does put off heat.

So what is burning?

 

[Sumpter]

Why use anything at all? Deal with the ice or move to a warmer climate. I have seen what salt can do to a vehicle in Michigan and it isn't worth it to me. IMO.

 

[tulenutn2o]

So I have this 4x4 chunk of pine in the garage. Is it giving off heat now? Technically, burning wood is an exothermic reaction. Give it up guys! Even my one source listed earlier (Portland Cement Association) said that there are conflicting studies.

Spoken like a true Engineer.