Thread: using electrolysis to remove rust

Originally Posted by luckduck32167

The charger i use is 12v, is that enough power? how much washing powder do i put in the water?

I assume you mean a 240v charger that's used to charge a 12v battery ?.. if so, that's ample.. for the mix i use about a teaspoon if powder per pint (500ml) of water... I don't find this critical.
For the positive wire i clip it to a scrap of stainless to be placed in the water.

Ken.

Originally Posted by luckduck32167

how much washing powder do i put in the water?

I wouldn't go putting any Surf or Cold Power in the electrolysis water if I were you. What you want to use is washing SODA, also known as bath crystals. It's probably on the lower shelf in the detergent aisle of your supermarket. The only brand I recall is called 'Lectric Soda. Clear plastic bag with red writing and yellow lightning bolts (to denote electricity).

Also, the use of stainless steel at the positive electrode is not recommended due to issues with a chromium gas that is very toxic.

Hope you read this before anything nasty happens.

Tom

ahahhaha oh my bad, i just read my item specs and it says 400 amps, guess thats OK then

Soda Ash from a local pool shop or Bunning if you cant find it at the supermarket (I couldn't).

Originally Posted by luckduck32167

ahahhaha oh my bad, i just read my item specs and it says 400 amps, guess thats OK then

400 amps???

from what? surely not from a battery charger.

I think you had better take another look.

Use washing soda, available at your supermarket , if not, use bicarb soda or baking soda.
Just throw a handfulor two into the tub of water and stir. It's not critical.

Don't use stainless steel, the results are toxic.

Any car battery charger will provide enough current. Maybe 2 amps or less at 12 volts.

Make sure the area is reasonably ventilated - hydrogen gas given off can go boom if it is confined although that is highly unlikely.

Make sure you get the polarity right. Negative to the workpiece, positive to the sacrificial iron, otherwise you will corrode the workpiece.

i can now buy old rusty handtools from the fleemarket, derust em and make em good as new. Plus the tools will be cheaper because the seller thinks its old garbage which is y they sell em in the first place.

I'll continue to swear by citric acid after trying just about everything else. Boil the kettle, put roughly two tablespoons into a tray after you add the water (it is an acid after all, even if it's a mild food one!) and give it three hours. No chargers, no power, no maths working out how to do it, just some hot water and the stuff they make sherbet with

Originally Posted by andrewr79

I'll continue to swear by citric acid after trying just about everything else. Boil the kettle, put roughly two tablespoons into a tray after you add the water (it is an acid after all, even if it's a mild food one!) and give it three hours. No chargers, no power, no maths working out how to do it, just some hot water and the stuff they make sherbet with

citric acid? this might b a stupid question but aint that stuff inside lemons? i remember it from that simpsons episode where springvale and shelbiville fought over the lemon tree (haha). I'll give anything a shot once.

Pretty much, yes! But you can buy it in powdered form in the baking section of supermarkets, which works better. I've had a rusty plane blade soaking for two days and it came out shiny steel this afternoon

Hi.. The stuff i use is Sodium Carbonate.. its in the supermarket with the washing products. also good for soaking your tired feet in ..

May have to reconsider the stainless steel though.. wasn't aware that it was dangerous.......... my info came off several US sources.

Ken.

Originally Posted by kenny_10

Hi.. The stuff i use is Sodium Carbonate.. its in the supermarket with the washing products. also good for soaking your tired feet in ..

May have to reconsider the stainless steel though.. wasn't aware that it was dangerous.......... my info came off several US sources.

Ken.

i use stainless steel, although a youtube video says to use ordinary mild steel. im trying the citric acid bath now i hope it works out for the better.

Also you can use molassis or treacle in a bath, no need for power and there's plenty of info on google as to how.

Citric acid, or any acid , may remove the rust and make the piece shiny, but that means that you have lost metal from the piece. Electrolysis converts the iron oxide (rust) back to solid iron.

As for molasses, well, I have read the stories but have yet to try it. The stories are, perhaps, much the same as those that advocate Coca Cola as a rust restorative.

I've not noticed any noticable loss, though I agree there will be some. Luckduck, make sure you dry them off as soon as you take them out and oil them - machine, canola, whatever will do. Fresh metal rusts quickly!