[sswee]

Unless Caswell has changed the formula since I bought mine, the package was labeled sodium hydroxide. It works good. I believe it can be made more aggressive through heat but I have always used it at room temp. Sometimes meaning low 50's. If I remember correctly, I got enough to mix 4.5 gal. last June and it still works the same as it did when I mixed it.

It took about 15 minutes on the hardest anodize to strip. Usually 5 to 10 on the average. I haven't left a part in over 30 min. but no problems with the part because of it. I don't know what hours would do. It will effect shine. The longer in, the less shine the part will have. I use it for rework and color changes. The Violet DS pulley in the photo album was a color change. It was in stripper for 18 min. and 4 min. in Deox/Desmut then anodized. No buffing.

My 5 gal bucket has only slight residue in the bottom. I haven't tried to filter it. The only maintenance I have done is to keep a lid on it when not in use. It stays clear unless there is a part in it and it's foaming.

I am not familiar with another alternative other than the drain cleaner I was using. I feel more comfortable using this than the drain cleaner due to the fact I don't know what else is in the drain cleaner designed to eat blockages.

I think it's worth the money for the amount of time it's lasted and the knowledge that it is designed for doing what I am using it for. The results of its use are consistent enough to project the approximate time needed for its use. Hope this helps. Any thing else, just let me know. SS