Restoration Tip: Electrolysis Derusting

[Rob Beale]

If you mix 3 parts Washing Soda with 1 part Baking Soda you get Natron, which the ancient Egyptians used to dry out the bodies when they were being mummified.

I spent an enjoyable afternoon helping my daughter with a science fair project. We used thin strips of beef schnitzel and it was still hanging round the shed months later: no smell and no rot!

Rob

[Bob Moseley (RIP)]

Hi all - I don't know who uses caustic soda and a battery charger, but my tip, that started the Restoration Forum, was utilising washing soda. I still marvel at this process and use it exclusively for electrolysis derusting of the instrument panel parts.
Bob

[Jeff Gordon]

I have been wanting to give it a go for years and have never got around to doing it.
Does the negative or positive go to the part?
Does a higher amp charger work faster?
I was told to use washing soda and a scrap piece of stainless steel as it lasts longer.
I have a caustic soda wheelie bin for paint removal and a molases bin for rust but it is too slow.
Jeff

[Mike K]

Jeff

The Negative lead goes to the rusty part ... Positive lead connects to a small piece of steel , can be stainless or galv. anything really .

I've found as little as 4 Amps works fine .. it depends on how big the part is and how close the electrodes are to each other .. Closer electrodes = higher Amps . Ideally, you want to surround the rusty part with the POS electrode ,this isn't easy to do in practice .

Watch the charger ... check it often to see it isn't overheating . If its pulling too much current , just move the Pos electrode away slightly .

After removing the part , wash it down with clean water and brush off the residue . I give the part a quick coat of that diluted phosphoric acid solution , before the air has time to recoat it with rust.

Mike