Rust Removal by Electrolysis

[Traveller]

I have lots of rusty bits and usually resort to wire wheels, brushes, shot blasting or some other arduous method to remove the stuff. I don't believe in magic so do not fall for these smoke and mirrors mixed with snake oil solutions!
However, yesterday, I filled a bucket with water with a couple of cups of washing soda mixed in. I placed a piece of box section steel in the bucket and clamped the positive terminal of a twelve volt supply to it. I then connected a rusty bit I wanted to restore (off a tractor) submerged in the bucket, hung from the rim of the bucket by a piece of welding rod with the copper covering rubbed off. I then connected the negative terminal of the twelve volt supply to the welding rod.
I switched on the power supply and left it till tonight when I came home from work. The liquid fizzed away with bubbles (hydrogen and oxygen) coming from the metal parts.
The attached picture shows the results. The rusty cruddy one is in the same condition as the clean one was. All I had to do when I took it out was brush the crud off and that was it. Pretty pleased for a first go.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

 

[Boris]

That's mighty impressive

 

[Traveller]

That's mighty impressive

Its important to have good electrical contact with the rusty bit. I filed the rust off where the welding rod was wrapped round the part.
If you look at the eye bolt on the end of the clean component it is still rusty, I didnt attach the welding rod to it and therefore the current didnt flow through this part very well.
Ps all the rust ends up bonded to the bit of submerged scrap box section connected to the anode.

This is a link to the tou tube post I followed

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=54ADeB6V ... ata_player

 

[hotbulb]

This came up on another forum I frequent (http://www.internalfire.com), and someone posted this link, which might be of interest
http://www.htpaa.org.au/article-electro.php

:wales-emoticon-vlag:

 

[Traveller]

This came up on another forum I frequent (http://www.internalfire.com), and someone posted this link, which might be of interest
http://www.htpaa.org.au/article-electro.php

:wales-emoticon-vlag:

Hi, I read that one as part of the research to find out what was involved. Just decided to go for it yesterday and see what happened.

 

[nigelphoto]

The misses had some surplus body hair removed by Electrolysis, but unfortunately she's still rusty . . .

 

[Traveller]

The misses had some surplus body hair removed by Electrolysis, but unfortunately she's still rusty . . .

So she doesnt know your password to this site then?

 

[nigelphoto]

The misses had some surplus body hair removed by Electrolysis, but unfortunately she's still rusty . . .

So she doesnt know your password to this site then?

No, she calls it 'motorbike porn'

 

[Sharribee]

The misses had some surplus body hair removed by Electrolysis, but unfortunately she's still rusty . . .

**Snigger**
That's rude

Sent from my C6603 using Tapatalk

 

[nigelphoto]

The misses had some surplus body hair removed by Electrolysis, but unfortunately she's still rusty . . .

**Snigger**
That's rude

Sent from my C6603 using Tapatalk

She will also tell you I am a rude boy

 

[Traveller]

Just an update about my electrolysis project. Thats rust removal, not hair removal!
The attached picture shows the same bits shown in the first picture after having them zinc plated and gold passivated. The cost was £20, very pleased with the result.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

 

[nigelphoto]

Thats very nice, but my tractor's not rusty at the moment

 

[Traveller]

Ha, neither is mine now!