TOOLS, Rust Removal, the easy way...

[CharlieLed]

I finally decided to look into setting up an electrolysis rig just to see if it really worked. I had two spindles from the Corvette rearend that I am using for my Merc, both were rusty and I didn't relish the thought of spending an hour or so with the wire wheel on them. Here is the one that I have yet to dip, it is not as bad as the one that I finished but you can see the rust on the yoke and spline...

[CharlieLed]

This is the other spindle, it sat in the electrolysis dip for about 6 hours. As you can see, the rust is gone and the metal looks almost new. I hope that the pics show the detail...

[Rude Dude]

This may sound dumb but I was on a vintage truck site that showed some guys using molasses I think it was heated. The parts they had put in homemade vat came out like they had been sandblasted. I have been trying to find the site to post here.

[Elrod]

Molasses trick has been discussed hundreds of times here. Do a search.

Cool! So, that's the outcome with the ole battery charger and sodium carbonate? I'm definately going to use that technique!

[McGrath]

Looks like it worked pretty good.

[wayfarer]

I've messed around with the reverse electrolysis before, but it takes too long. I prefer to use muriatic acid to strip small parts. It's like $3 a gallon at the pool store and works really fast.

[CharlieLed]

This was just too damn cheap and easy...
Take one plastic bucket, kitty litter bucket in my case...
Add enough water to cover the piece (about two gallons for me),
Add a tablespoon of laundry soda per gallon of water,
Hook a wire (coat hanger in my case) to the rusty part,
Get another piece of metal to act as the anode (1 inch tubing worked good for me),
1 battery charger...

Mix the soda into the water, hook the wire to the part and suspend in the liquid until completely covered, place the anode into the water so that it doesn't touch the part, hook the positive lead from the battery charger to the anode and the negative lead to the wire holding the part. Turn the charger on, check that it is drawing current (about an amp in my setup), and let it cook.

Here's the setup I used....

[Jojo]

That's great.

Do you have a photo of the electrolysis set-up?

[CharlieLed]

Here's what the water looks like AFTER the process was completed...

[CharlieLed]

Here's the laundry soda I used. I used just a few cents worth of the soda, some scrap metal, a coat hanger, and some electricity...how simple is that!

[nailhead_sled]

Potentially dumb question… Does the electrolysis process eat away at aluminum parts like the molasses solution will?

[**DONOTDELETE**]

Great Post!! any safety precautions?? can't wait to try this out.

[Hot Rod To Hell]

[ QUOTE ]
Potentially dumb question… Does the electrolysis process eat away at aluminum parts like the molasses solution will?


[/ QUOTE ]
Another potentially dumb question: You have rusty aluminum parts???

[Machinos]

Yep, I'm so gonna do this. What amp setting did you put the charger at? Mine does 6 volt 2 amp, 12 volt 6 amp and 12 volt 10 amp (if I recall correctly). The best part is that we have a million of those kitty litter buckets laying around, heheh.

Is it possible to use any non-metallic basin? If you use more water/soda do you have to up the amps to get the same effect?

[Noname38]

LMAO sorry couldn't resist . Just so you all know I'm not laughin at the procedure it was the comment about rusty aluminum

[lik2writ]

Nice setup. Just a word of precaution : Do this in a well ventilated or open area if you can, no flames and no smoking. The bubbles that arise are hydrogen gas , when they mix with air they are flamable. Also, don't hang over the brew too long, not good for the long range health plan.

[lik2writ]

If you have softer metals embedded in the steel, like alum. or brass or copper, these will be eaten away at a fast rate. If you let your battery charger terminal slip in to the mix, it will be eaten as well.

[TheDooWopKid13]

i have used this stuff called blue lightning rust remover. its expensive ($25 a gallon), but you put it on and less then 20 minutes your rust free. its so strong that it will eat up your asphalt, and bleech your concrete.

[Levis Classic]

Great post!

[48_HEMI]

Now if I get about ten or fifteen of you guys to help me get my car bck out of the swimming pool!