rust removal,electrolasis

[arther dailey]

Read a few articles on here, is there a specific article some wheres stating the best set up? as I am going to set tank up and prefer to do it in one hit.
seems on several I read the charger is/isnt correct sort to use, any and all advice welcomed.thanks Arther

 

[Swift&Bold]

I use a 19v laptop power source, IIRC over 24v is a waste as there is no additional gain.
The 'problem' with modern chargers is that they are generally smart chargers, so they have to detect and monitor a load or they just sit in standby, you can overcome this by using an old car battery as an accumulator but it's all clutter.

 

[The_Yellow_Ardvark]

I use a old fashioned battery charger, the non smart version. £2 at a boot sale.
It has even done a 5 by 3 trailer base in a old kids paddling pool (£5 at a boot sale)

 

[kier]

jumping in on this thread , I have an old charger , but what mix is used in the plastic tank

 

[slim_boy_fat]

About 1 tbspn of washing soda per gallon is what I use - seems to work.

 

[The_Yellow_Ardvark]

1tb spoon of citric acid to 1 gallon of water.

One fun or dangerous(depend what side of the fence you are on) is with washing soda it can go bang when a naked flame gets near it.

 

[Swift&Bold]

That's the Hydrogen gas, you'll get that whenever there is water present in electrolysis even with no additives. The great thing about the process is that when there is no more rust it will stop, by adding acid it will carry on reacting with the metal until there is nothing left, that's why acid in the solution is best avoided.

 

[kier]

will try to set a tank up this week, outside, thanks for the help got some citric acid so will go with that

 

[Swift&Bold]

Soda crystals are about a quid a bag from Tesco and will last years, use them instead of the acid.

 

[kier]

ok

 

[arther dailey]

Thanks guys, will get sorted and try it out.thanks Arther

 

[The_Yellow_Ardvark]

Start small and work your way up.

 

[arther dailey]

cheers,will do.thanks

 

[kier]

ok 25l of water in a 30l screw top barrel 5 tbs of soda crystals from asda 63p kilo connected 12v charger and it is bubbling but not a lot put the positive on the item to clean and neg on an old mower blade 2ft x 2 inches , is that the right way around how long should it take aprox are we talking days or more, how much bubbling should I expect
mower blade was the first thing to find

 

[The_Yellow_Ardvark]

Negative on the part you want to clean.
Positive on the sacrificial anode.

http://www.instructables.com/id/Electrolytic-Rust-Removal-aka-Magic/


That link will help.

 

[T0rnado69]

put the positive on the item to clean
and neg on an old mower blade 2ft x 2 inches , is that the right way around

im sure its the otherway around

 

[kier]

opps

 

[slim_boy_fat]

Negative on the part you want to clean.
Positive on the sacrificial anode.

That's the way I do it.

 

[T0rnado69]

first time i tried it.
i did it the wrong way around.

but it was because i was cleaning the 4 rusty anodes.

 

[kier]

changed and doubled the anode area bit more bubbling now