Mizzladygurl said:
I don't have a garage but I do have a shed, it's small but I think if the door is open it will be ventilated enough.
HCl fumes will hang in the air if you don't have a cross-flow of air. You will find that just an open door isn't really good enough.
An open window on the other side of the shed would be much better. Putting a fan in, or directly in front of, the window would be best, until you make a fume hood.
Notice which way the wind usually blows at your site. Work with your back to the incomming wind, so that fresh air flows past you, then over the HCl solution, then out of the shed. If you use a fan, point it to be flowing in the same diretion of the wind.
If the wind comes inward from the door, you should be near the door, with the wind blowing past you, then over the HCl solution, then have the fan blowing outward through the window. The fan set like this will get HCl fumes blowing through it, and will rust much quicker that when it is blowing air inward from the window, but it is necessary. You can usually find fans at the thrift stores like Goodwill and so forth, at low prices, and just replace it, if it quits working.
If the wind blows outward, away from the door, then make the fan blow inward from the window. The fan won't get as much acid fumes on it this way, and will last longer.
If there is no window in the shed, get an in-wall mount fan, and cut a hole in the wall. Opposite the door would be best, with the prevailing wind coming in the door and through the fan in the wall. If the breeze blows sideways to the door, then positioning the fan opposite the door is still the best. If the usual wind blows away from the door, put the fan in the opposite wall, and stay near the fan, with the HCl near the door.
If there is no, or very little, breeze, you will need to use a fan. Plan on building a fume hood, at least a small one, because you will want one soon, regardless of wind conditions.
There will be acid fumes anywhere acids are stored, and more where acids are used. Everything metal in the shed will eventually rust because of this. So don't store metal tools or equipment in the same shed with acids. Even acids in tightly closed containers will emit some fumes, and corrode any metals in the area. That's why garages aren't good for refining.
Study the different forms of danger which the different acids present. They all act differently, and require different precautions under different conditions. Also there are a couple of alkalines which are sometimes used for various procedures, which are as, or more, dangerous than some of the usual acids.
The basics are clean air, rubber gloves, and protective eyewear. Keep some clean water where you are working, to flush away any acids you might spill on yourself. Also some water with baking soda dissolved in it, which will neutralize acid spills. This is just some very basic precautions, to give you an idea of how to prepare to work safely.
As you can see from this fourm, the dangers of refining can be dealt with safely, using the right precautions for each specific procedure. It's done every day. You too can do it. When in doubt, ask questions.
