Tool restoration question

[old_picker]

Just wondering if the treatment using electrolysis, citric acid etc destroys any of the good metal or does it just eat out the cancer??

Probably a question for any out there with good chenistry :2tsup:

[silentC]

The idea is that it converts rust into good metal. It wont put back what nature has taken away but it wont do further damage.

I read the details somewhere, but basically the iron rod gives up electrons to whatever you are de-rusting, which reverses the oxidization process somewhat. I think. Make sure you never hook it up back to front though, or your antique plane will be giving up electrons to your iron rod, and you definitely don't want that...

[Zsteve]

Citric acid or phosphoric (or other acids) will actually etch a metal surface - in other words it actually removes a small amount of good metal . Electrolysis will not remove any good good metal, it only removes rust and leaves sound metal behind.