[Cool Hand Lurker]

Muratic will attack the metal itself. It will crumble cast iron and put veins in some cold rolled steel alloys. Just my experience. Using it for a short time probably won't do this. To neutralize it, plain water is not sufficient. Make up a bath of water and bicarbonate of soda. It is a "base" and will neutralize the acid. You can see the foaming reaction, just use enough solution until it stops foaming. If the muriatic acid container is leaking you will find rust forming on your machinery in a short time just from the vapors.

Phosphoric acid is better. It takes off the rust but does not attack the steel and it leaves a gray coating that is rust resistant and can be left on for painting. I believe this is what the new car companies use. You can get it in the hardware store labeled as "concrete cleaner and rust remover" and it should show the ingredient as phosphoric acid, not muriatic acid. Both acids are used for concrete etching.

Electrolytic is the best though.