Restoration Tip: Electrolysis Derusting

[maple_leaf_eh]

@Jack - I think you need to read through the thread to see what ratios to use. I think you are too rich with the soda. The power supply might be working too hard. In my opinion, less soda is better than lots of soda.

[Bob Carriere]

The size of the parts and the size of the sacrificial electrode will dictate the current needed.

We used a plastic 45 gallons / 200 + liters........with a Lye solution. Had a huge sheet of stainless steel curled on the inside of the drum parts were suspended in the center.....like axle suspended from the tractor front loader.

I ran a ten amp bat. charger connected to 2 huge truck batteries. In 3 hours the axle housing was cleaned and both batteried were near dead.

Batteries were recharged overnite and the other half of the axle done.

Scums and gas bubbles on top was an inch thick...... we did this outside in the open so fumes or hydrogen gas was not an issue. Lye was strong enough to require gloves but it removed paint and hard caked gear oil residue like you would not believe.

Rinsed with the pressure washer....sun dried and phospated...sun dried and painted with POR 15.

To run this process on a large scale would require a large and expensive bat. charger...... batteries was quicker for us.

Bob

[Richard Coutts-Smith]

Jack,
Try changing the size of your other plate. I use a small 4 amp battery charger, and just varied the size of the plate I clamped the Neg. lead to until the it stopped cutting out.
Rich.

[Bob Moseley (RIP)]

Hi Jack - I have had trouble with chargers as well. The problem with the modern chargers is that they have a safety cut-out making it think that what it is connectd to is charged. Old fashioned chargers are the best. All the recipies are contained within this thread.

Bob

[Ric Davies]

My mate in the West did the whole cab of a GMC 6x6 with this method. He used a truck bin with a tarp to line it. He used a world war 11 Ford V8 powered DC welder to supply the current. 20 litres of petrol, with the engine at idle, and attached to the anodes worked a treat. His experiments and experiences getting to this point remain a secret to maintain face.

[jack neville]

Originally Posted by Bob Moseley

Hi Jack - I have had trouble with chargers as well. The problem with the modern chargers is that they have a safety cut-out making it think that what it is connectd to is charged. Old fashioned chargers are the best. All the recipies are contained within this thread.

Bob

Anyone got an old style charger they want to sell?

[Bob Moseley (RIP)]

Hi Jack - I obtain all mine from swap meets and garage sales and they normally go pretty cheaply.

Bob

[jack neville]

Originally Posted by Bob Moseley

Hi Jack - I obtain all mine from swap meets and garage sales and they normally go pretty cheaply.

Bob

That's what I'm after!!!