thompson1600
ArboristSite Guru
I believe washing soda is Sodium Carbonate. I just use the Arm & Hammer brand Super Washing Soda. In a yellow box, in my grocery store laundry soap area.
Rust
- Thread starter ScooterDrew1983
- Start date
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thompson1600
ArboristSite Guru
here is my setup. I used a tub I bought at target. I use old metal table saw blades. I connected 3 of them into a series. That is why you see the wires going around. The more surface area of the electrode you have the quicker it seems to work. I just used alligator clips and regular 12 gauge wire to connect the 3 saw blades into a series.
Tom
Tom
ScooterDrew1983
ArboristSite Lurker
so less water & more electrodes is been, given that the bar is completely covered?
thompson1600
ArboristSite Guru
I use enough water to completely submerge the item I am removing the rust from. The process won't remove rust on areas not completely submerged.
In the picture I posted, that is an old Stanley Bedrock #606 hand plane I am cleaning up. The white stuff in the water is bubbles. When you start the electrolysis process you will see bubbles coming off of the part being cleaned.
The saw blades that are connected in a series will dissolve. They are intended to be expendable electrodes. The connections for the blades must be kept out of the water, so basically the saw blade is only about 1/2 to 3/4 submerged.
I've found the more electrodes I use the quicker it gets done, just make sure the electrodes, don't contact the item be de-rusted. I also only use about 2 or 3 tablespoons or washing soda per gallon or so of water.
Tom
In the picture I posted, that is an old Stanley Bedrock #606 hand plane I am cleaning up. The white stuff in the water is bubbles. When you start the electrolysis process you will see bubbles coming off of the part being cleaned.
The saw blades that are connected in a series will dissolve. They are intended to be expendable electrodes. The connections for the blades must be kept out of the water, so basically the saw blade is only about 1/2 to 3/4 submerged.
I've found the more electrodes I use the quicker it gets done, just make sure the electrodes, don't contact the item be de-rusted. I also only use about 2 or 3 tablespoons or washing soda per gallon or so of water.
Tom
What jimc said. I use a wire wheel on a grinder and for the nooks and cranny's I use a wire brush attachment with a die grinder. I strip my old collectibles to bare metal and repaint them. If the bar won't scrub clean I go over them with Rustoleum metallic paint. But now that I know about electrolysis I will have to try that.
