Thread: electrolysis and japanning?

If the japanning is sound, then it shouldn't be affected. If it is flaking and it is sitting on rusted metal, it will most likely come off. As far as I am concerned, that is a good thing.

Thanks Silent,

I wanted to be prepaired if it did come off,I guess if it does come off then the bond wasn't great to start with.

Himzo.

Never done it myself but from what I understand of electrolysis is that if the electolite can't contact the iron nothing will occur. Buy where it can you will get an iron build up. Problem I am seeing is that where the japanning is you might get a build up of iron along the japanning creating ridges that you may not want. It might be better to strip the plane body down and then re-apply the jappaning. I know there is a site in the US that you can buy genuine black japaning paint, unfortuneatly I don't remember it.

where it can you will get an iron build up

It wont add iron, all it does is converts existing rusted metal to good metal. It would be nice if it did though because it would be a cure for pitting.

I would agree with the statement as long as the jappaning is sound the electrolysis will not affect it.

I have used electrolysis on a number of hand planes (full submersion in the solution), and have not had a problem with it lifting sound jappanning. It will only come off where there is rust underneath the jappanning.

Regards
Stephen

I've since read that someone has reported problems with the japanning on Stanley planes made in England: http://www.woodworking-forum.com/woo...f__965526.html

Thanks folks,

Silent thanks for the link, Interesting though I'm not sure what the referance to tomatoes was :confused:
I'm going to be setting up the process tonight but need to take some before shots so I have a record of it all.

I'm not sure I wan't to be adding dead flies to the mix though :eek: , maybe some eye of newt, or toads whiskers.

Himzo.

These are the before photos, I have to get some stainless so that I can set up the electro bath, hopefully should have some progress shots on the weekend.

I've always used a bit of half inch stainless towel rail in mine but I read somewhere that stainless can cause problems because it can cause a build up of chromium on the object. I don't know how much of a problem that is for you. I've never noticed anything unusual. Probably depends on the type of stainless you use. I have used a length of square steel tube and it worked fine.

I've always used a bit of half inch stainless towel rail in mine but I read somewhere that stainless can cause problems because it can cause a build up of chromium on the object

I have some similar stuff at my parents place, I was making a stainless steel rocket launcher (rod holder) for my boat a couple of years ago and have some off cuts still.The build up of cromium doesn't worry me, I suspect it will be microscopic and as long as I can get everything flat and cutting correctly then there is nothing to fear.
Besides isn't cromium there as a rust inhibitor? so it can't be bad having a bit of it move over onto the plane, specialy where I live.

Himzo.