Restoration Tip: Electrolysis Derusting

[Bob Carriere]

.....Yes Terry if splashed you wind up with very holy pants and shirt sleeves.

Solution is to splash clean water immediately thenit only bleaches the pants.

The caustic solution realy removes the grease on your hands..... along with disolving a layer of skin.

Parts, after derusting were pressure washed in the gravel driveway.... keeps the grass from invading the driveway.

45 gallon drum of caustic solution was dumped on the ground near the barn on a particular heavy rainny day....... no bald squirrels were observed in the following days...... some dandy lions took a nose dive.

We always did our work outside so hydrogen was never a problem.... the hydogen sulphide released by the Rotters was far more offensive.

We also sand blast old, I assume lead paint, CMP paint and the sand does collect extensively in front of the barn. In certain areas like Phil in NH, who is next to a water reservoir, his expended sand has to be contained as a toxic substance and disposed in a special site.

So far things have been very casual in Hammond.

The strange behaviour of the Rotters may be a symptoms of lead posioning...

BooBee

[Ralph Volkert]

Hey Terry

I didnt mean to scare anyone. In the past I have never had to dispose of more than 1-2 gallons of elecrolyte. But I have never had a carrier before either.

Bob mentioned a good point. Have a good source of clean fresh water handy in case you splash any solution on your self or your eyes!.

My solutions never have any heavy metals from using galvinised or stainless steel anodes,etc so that has never been a concern for me. I only use enough sodium hydroxide to get conductivity so yes it is caustic but probly no more and probably much less than an automatic dishwasher load uses. So I have usually disposed of it down the kitchen sink drain with lots of running water. Still it is less caustic than a drain cleaner but still works well to help keep the drain clean!

If you dumped it outside and was very strong solution you probly would be killing grass and weeds but the soil should neutralize it fairly readily.

The problem is with heavy metals. If that is in your solution and you pour it on the ground, it can get in to your garden or when it dries the dust can go airborne. I am an old Fart anyway so I am not too concerned about myself but the grand kids and nieghbour kids I worry about.

The caustic electrolye itself is not a big deal if that is all it is. But if you don't know what you are doing neutralizing it can cause other issues. It can get very hot. (hydrochloic acid or bleach mixed with it may generate chlorine gas and a wiff of that will REALLY clean out your sinuses and lungs!) So as Bob suggested, if all it is sodium hydroxide, wash soda etc judicious disposal is not a problem. (In other words don't water your wife's roses with it!)

Just remember, all you are making is a strong detergent solution. ie similar to what you use in your automatic dishwasher. Just remember if it is paint stripper bath strength you may want to dispose of it slowly because it is so strong!

When I make up a batch, I know I will be using it for some time so I just cover it up and store it in the basement or the garage for the next time. But it is also great for cleaning oil stains on the Garage floor, rags etc. So around my place it has never been around too long any way.

[Phill]

Brought this thread back to add this link from 'Shop Floor Talk'. Phil
http://www.shopfloortalk.com/forums/...ead.php?t=1695