this post was submitted on 24 Sep 2024
9 points (100.0% liked)

DIY

1159 readers
3 users here now

For DIY - this is also a placeholder.

founded 2 years ago
MODERATORS
9
submitted 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago) by tobylemming to c/diy
 

Hi, I am wondering if anyone could please help identify the white powder substance that is appearing on the shelves on my shed?

I think it may be some type of acid? It appears to be eating away at the metal of my shelves. I have previously brushed the shelves down to clear this before but it has returned, so I suspect I may need to use some sort of cleaner?

There was a leak in the roof for a few months and some tools became rusty as a result. The leak has been sorted but I wonder if it could be related to the powder substance.

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
[–] [email protected] 3 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago)

Hmm, this kind of stuff is usually a result of water acting as a solvent pulling salts and similar substances from a substrate and later evaporating, leaving the powder behind.

It is probably something that was used to treat the plywood or a combination of that with the zinc coating of the metal (zinc-sulfate?).

Edit: probably sodium-borate, as that seems to be prone to leaching from wood treated with it.