Thread: Handsaw restoration

Originally Posted by Berlin

If you can't get your hands on some carbon, Paul, no one can!

Matt

I hadn't thought of that, but in my defense I was thinking 3/4" diameter, not 1m3!!

Regards
Paul

From a quick search of the internet, 1/2" gouging rods seem to be readily available, but I think you would want plain carbon, & not copper-jacketed? Most I saw on my quick look were copper-coated. I can't see why 1/2" diameter wouldn't work just as well, you could always space them a little closer. On that topic, I had a bit of a chuckle when I read the original post, & his statement that electrolysis works 'line of sight'. It doesn't, but electric current takes the path of least resistance, so I suppose it could give that impression.

I've never used electrolysis to clean a metal object, I will admit, but do have a fair bit of experience with electrolysis in other applications, where maintaining even current density in the electrolyte bath is necessary. I can see that if you have a long object in the bath, & had bath electrodes at one point only, the current density will be higher at the points closest to the electrodes than at the end furthest away, so I imagine the effect will be greater at the near end of the object being cleaned. The difference would depend on the electrical resistance of your electrolyte solution - the higher the conductivity, the less the effect would be. If the electrolyse solution has a moderate to high resistance, even spacing of the bath electrodes would create a more even current density from the surface of your article, producing a more even effect, I'd assume...?

Cheers,