Today I acquired...........

[The_Yellow_Ardvark]

It's by far the better method. As I've said multiple times before, the results from citric are unpredictable, & on occasion, dire.

I find with Citric acid is to start with 1Table spoon per litre of water.
Add the metal, degreased first.

Then ad more powder citric until you get small bubbles forming.
Plus keeping the metal out of the sediment that collects at the lowest point.

Electrolytic rust removal is good if all parts have "line of sight" to at least one Anode.
But it may lift chrome or the brass may leech the cooper through.

Every rust removal methods has it pros and cons.

 

[25.4_mechanic]

It's by far the better method. As I've said multiple times before, the results from citric are unpredictable, & on occasion, dire.

Every rust removal methods has it pros and cons.

Some wrenches looked not bad after the citrus treatment.

My impression is that it depends strongly on the alloy, which method leads to a more respectable result.
Trouble is ... hardly any tool manufacturer will tell us exactly his preferred steel grade.

I will do some tests with material pieces, where I know the stuff exactly, because I bought it as raw material or semi-finished product.

What we have not yet sufficiently discussed is the exact effect of time and concentration.

Carsten

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[MattF]

But it may lift chrome or the brass may leech the cooper through.

Those can happen with citric too.

 

[The_Yellow_Ardvark]

Those can happen with citric too.

it always does.

 

[MattF]

it always does.

Then why mention it with regard to electrolysis?

 

[Maker]

What we have not yet sufficiently discussed is the exact effect of time and concentration.

I've never seen any discussion about the effect of current in electroysis either. I used to use a huge transformer battery charger for electrolysis, it pumped out 40 amps if the meter is to be believed but I wasn't aware of it working any better or worse than a little PC PSU running at about an amp. I will say the parts came out nice and warm.

 

[MattF]

Electrolysis is supposed to be run at low current if preservation is paramount. There's an indepth document somewhere online regarding all aspects of the subject. It's a marine archaelogy institution based paper, if I recall correctly.

Even for the largest of pieces, I never felt the urge or need to go above 1A or so. I also never noted anything resembling a "line of sight" issue, regardless how oft it's mentioned & espoused by people.

 

[Hood]

Today I acquired some warm hands

 

[JMS1972]

Today I acquired some warm hands

View attachment 318593

How do heated butt plugs keep your hands warm?

 

[Maker]

I also never noted anything resembling a "line of sight" issue, regardless how oft it's mentioned & espoused by people.

There's a good reason for that, electrolysis isn't line of sight, no matter how often people claim it.

It follows electric field lines, like so:

The back side of a part gets cleaned, in much the same way as the back side of the anode gets all corroded and manky looking. It won't work so well with deep holes or cracks but even then it will work, just might take a little longer.

 

[MattF]

Today I acquired some warm hands

How do heated butt plugs keep your hands warm?

Dunno, but that's better than the other way he could've been warming his hands.

 

[Hood]

How do heated butt plugs keep your hands warm?

If you like sticking rubber things in your butt I am happy for you, I just put them on the handlebars and place my hands on them

 

[25.4_mechanic]

I used to use a huge transformer battery charger for electrolysis, it pumped out 40 amps if the meter is to be believed

The current that can flow follows the potential difference, i.e. the voltage.
The source can be capable of as much current as imaginable, if there is no corresponding conductivity, no very large current will flow.

If there is any talk of constant current sources pumping the current, so to speak, this is actually done by increasing the voltage.

I did the last rust removal with an old starter/charger capable of 20A, but even in the fast charge stage - i.e. with increased voltage - the conductivity of the washing soda broth resulted in no more than 2.5A at the maximum.

Carsten

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[MattF]

There's a good reason for that, electrolysis isn't line of sight, no matter how often people claim it.

Finally, someone else with the ability for independant thought. I've given up trying to tell people how incorrect it is. Easier to plait snuff.

 

[James1979]

How do heated butt plugs keep your hands warm?

When you ‘apply’ them do you not find the bike handles funny?

or do you have to use them in pairs to keep things even, as it were

 

[MattF]

When you ‘apply’ them do you not find the bike handles funny?

or do you have to use them in pairs to keep things even, as it were

Will you lot stop it. I can do without these visions.

 

[25.4_mechanic]

never noted anything resembling a "line of sight" issue,

electrolysis isn't line of sight, no matter how often people claim it.

This will probably be because the most noticeable reaction, the bubbling out of oxygen from the cathode parts actually happens closest to the anode.

Offset pieces seem to shield the reaction, but as you say, something is also happening where you can't see it.

As with many things, by the way ...

Carsten

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[The_Yellow_Ardvark]

How do heated butt plugs keep your hands warm?

How do you knoiq about them?

 

[JMS1972]

I have a motor bike licence so you hear about these things?

 

[The_Yellow_Ardvark]

I have a motor bike licence so you hear about these things?

How?
Over the bike noise in a helmet?