I remember reading that muriatic (hydrochloric) acid could dissolve the cement surrounding metal pins but I don't remember how long it takes. I picked up a large insulator from the local power company in November, 1986, and immediately started the acid working while I started to wait.

Periodically I would check it. Sometimes I needed to add acid since some seemed to evaporate. Sometimes I would start over again so I could poke at the cement with a small screwdriver and clear loose particles away. A few times I gave the pin some taps with a hammer to see if I could vibrate it loose.

More and more I thought about writing to find out why the pin still didn't come off and to ask for advice. Today it did. Altogether it took 3 months and 10 days. Now I've got a smaller Lapp insulator I'm treating. The cement looks a little different, though, but I know not to worry until 3 more months. I hope others can save a bit of their sanity with this knowledge. Patience has its rewards!

(Editor's Note: An extensive article on cemented pins and how to remove them can be found in January, 1984, page 6. Marilyn Albers describes the different cementing compounds and pinhole types.)