electrolysis/rust removal question

On Fri, 14 Nov 2003 06:58:48 -0800, Hylourgos wrote:

> Two questions about electrolysis, for either those who know about
> electricity or those who have tried it.:
>
> 1) I'm gearing up to try this out on a number of old planes (about
> 10). In the interest of saving time, can I hook up multiple leads
> (positive, if I remember) to multiple items in the same tank, or will
> that dilute the effect and slow down the process? I plan on running
> multiple anodes around the parts, if that matters.

Do *not* hook up the positive to the stuff you are trying to derust.
Positive to sacrificial anode, negative to your good stuff. You can hook
up multiple items as long as the connections are solid. Avoid getting the
charger clamps in the solution.

>
> 2) No one around here carries washing soda. I plan on mixing baking
> soda, tsp, and Borax instead. Any problems with that?

Washing soda is available at all the major supermarkets in the laundry
area. The box looks very similar to the baking soda boxes found in the
baking area. Mix about a tablespoon to a gallon of water.
>
> Thanks,
> H.

"SwampBug" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:<[email protected]>...
> Keep looking, I finally found some at a Kroger's supermarket , may be one in
> your area.
>
> --
> SwampBug
> ---------------------
> "Hylourgos" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> > Two questions about electrolysis, for either those who know about
> > electricity or those who have tried it.:
> >
> > 1) I'm gearing up to try this out on a number of old planes (about
> > 10). In the interest of saving time, can I hook up multiple leads
> > (positive, if I remember) to multiple items in the same tank, or will
> > that dilute the effect and slow down the process? I plan on running
> > multiple anodes around the parts, if that matters.
> >
> > 2) No one around here carries washing soda. I plan on mixing baking
> > soda, tsp, and Borax instead. Any problems with that?
> >
> > Thanks,
> > H.


I just did five bodies in washing soda (sodium carbonate) which is
found usually in an obscure corner of the washing section of the
supermarket. Not a profitable item I guess! Baking soda will work
(sodium bicarbonate).
Cathode (-) to the good stuff. Anode (+) is sacrificial. Cathode
cranks out hydrogen which is a "reducing" environment and will not
allow corrosion of your good stuff. Oxygen comes off at Anode.
Ordinary iron/steel anodes will rust away like crazy. I use a
stainless steel sheet for anode. Won't corrode so badly. Keeps
everything a little cleaner in the tub but this is not necessary.
Just happened to have an old perforated stainless sheet from the
grill. Nice big surface area too.
You will need to get your current up to a level high enough to loosen
the garbage as well as the rust. I get to about 8-10 amps at 12
volts. Warms the tub up too. I put a small 12 volt cooling fan on
top of the charger to increase ventilation as it is running at it's
"rated max" (10 amps). (Surge max on mine is 15 amps for a short
period. I do NOT run at that).
Your current (amps) is affected by concentration of soda, surface area
of electrodes and distance betwen the electrodes. If you have a
large surface area of planes in the tub it's no good having a puny
anode surface area. Try to get them roughly matched. Anyhow, be
careful not to exceed your 12 V DC source in terms of current. Don't
use a battery as source. A short can go to excessive amperages and
cause serious damage or harm.
Also, the hydrogen and oxygen offgassing provides a dandy explosive
mixture. ventilation strongly advised!
When the cooking is done, wash off immediately and bake in low oven
immediately to drive all the moisture from the porous iron.
Take care.
Paul

"Doug Winterburn" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:<[email protected]>...
> On Fri, 14 Nov 2003 06:58:48 -0800, Hylourgos wrote:
>
> > Two questions about electrolysis, for either those who know about
> > electricity or those who have tried it.:
> >
> > 1) I'm gearing up to try this out on a number of old planes (about
> > 10). In the interest of saving time, can I hook up multiple leads
> > (positive, if I remember) to multiple items in the same tank, or will
> > that dilute the effect and slow down the process? I plan on running
> > multiple anodes around the parts, if that matters.
>
> Do *not* hook up the positive to the stuff you are trying to derust.
> Positive to sacrificial anode, negative to your good stuff.

Oops, I knew I was probably getting that wrong without my crib sheet
at the computer....

> You can hook
> up multiple items as long as the connections are solid. Avoid getting the
> charger clamps in the solution.
>
> >
> > 2) No one around here carries washing soda. I plan on mixing baking
> > soda, tsp, and Borax instead. Any problems with that?
>
> Washing soda is available at all the major supermarkets in the laundry
> area. The box looks very similar to the baking soda boxes found in the
> baking area. Mix about a tablespoon to a gallon of water.

Believe it or not, I can't find it around here (Sewanee TN). I've
tried Piggly Wiggly and the Dollar General (nearby Monteagle), and
even WalMart in Decherd didn't have it. I looked carefully, it wasn't
there. The only similar product by Arm&Hammer there is called
"Fabricare" and is not the same as A&H Washing soda. It may be just as
good for my purposes--anyone know what % sodium carbonate it has? Or
any other good source of 80%+ sodium carbonate?

Otherwise, as things stand that is, it seems I'll have to resort to my
second-string mix. Problems with it anticipated by anyone?

> > Thanks,
> > H.

"Hylourgos" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
: "Doug Winterburn" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:<[email protected]>...
: > On Fri, 14 Nov 2003 06:58:48 -0800, Hylourgos wrote:
: >
: > > Two questions about electrolysis, for either those who know about
: > > electricity or those who have tried it.:
: > >
: > > 1) I'm gearing up to try this out on a number of old planes (about
: > > 10). In the interest of saving time, can I hook up multiple leads
: > > (positive, if I remember) to multiple items in the same tank, or will
: > > that dilute the effect and slow down the process? I plan on running
: > > multiple anodes around the parts, if that matters.
: >
: > Do *not* hook up the positive to the stuff you are trying to derust.
: > Positive to sacrificial anode, negative to your good stuff.
:
: Oops, I knew I was probably getting that wrong without my crib sheet
: at the computer....
:
: > You can hook
: > up multiple items as long as the connections are solid. Avoid getting the
: > charger clamps in the solution.
: >
: > >
: > > 2) No one around here carries washing soda. I plan on mixing baking
: > > soda, tsp, and Borax instead. Any problems with that?
: >
: > Washing soda is available at all the major supermarkets in the laundry
: > area. The box looks very similar to the baking soda boxes found in the
: > baking area. Mix about a tablespoon to a gallon of water.
:
: Believe it or not, I can't find it around here (Sewanee TN). I've
: tried Piggly Wiggly and the Dollar General (nearby Monteagle), and
: even WalMart in Decherd didn't have it. I looked carefully, it wasn't
: there. The only similar product by Arm&Hammer there is called
: "Fabricare" and is not the same as A&H Washing soda. It may be just as
: good for my purposes--anyone know what % sodium carbonate it has? Or
: any other good source of 80%+ sodium carbonate?
:
: Otherwise, as things stand that is, it seems I'll have to resort to my
: second-string mix. Problems with it anticipated by anyone?
:
: > > Thanks,
: > > H.

I throw in a tablet of regular detergent in the water. Works fine for me.

Hylourgos wrote:
<SNIP>

The only similar product by Arm&Hammer there is called
> "Fabricare" and is not the same as A&H Washing soda. It may be just as
> good for my purposes--anyone know what % sodium carbonate it has? Or
> any other good source of 80%+ sodium carbonate?
>
> Otherwise, as things stand that is, it seems I'll have to resort to my
> second-string mix. Problems with it anticipated by anyone?
>
>
>>>Thanks,
>>>H.

I could not locate washing soda in my neck of the woods either so I used
granulated dish washer detergent. Washing soda is sodium carbonate,
the major ingredient in granulated DW detergent is also sodium
carbonate. It works OK for me.

Tim

On Fri, 14 Nov 2003 15:26:46 GMT, you wrote:

>
>> 2) No one around here carries washing soda. I plan on mixing baking
>> soda, tsp, and Borax instead. Any problems with that?
>
>Washing soda is available at all the major supermarkets in the laundry
>area. The box looks very similar to the baking soda boxes found in the
>baking area. Mix about a tablespoon to a gallon of water.
>>
>> Thanks,
>> H.
in 40 mile diameter of where I live NO grocery store carries
it...
BUT, the pool places have it in 5 or 10# containers...
--Shiva--

The Guy wrote:

> I could not locate washing soda in my neck of the woods either so I used
> granulated dish washer detergent. Washing soda is sodium carbonate,
> the major ingredient in granulated DW detergent is also sodium
> carbonate. It works OK for me.

It seems to be a regional thing. A lot of folks are convinced it's under
every rock, so it probably is where they live.

When I couldn't find any, I used some of SWMBO's Oxy-Clean. It worked just
great.

--
Michael McIntyre ---- Silvan <[email protected]>
Linux fanatic, and certified Geek; registered Linux user #243621
http://www.geocities.com/Paris/Rue/5407/

Keep looking, I finally found some at a Kroger's supermarket , may be one in
your area.

--
SwampBug
---------------------
"Hylourgos" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Two questions about electrolysis, for either those who know about
> electricity or those who have tried it.:
>
> 1) I'm gearing up to try this out on a number of old planes (about
> 10). In the interest of saving time, can I hook up multiple leads
> (positive, if I remember) to multiple items in the same tank, or will
> that dilute the effect and slow down the process? I plan on running
> multiple anodes around the parts, if that matters.
>
> 2) No one around here carries washing soda. I plan on mixing baking
> soda, tsp, and Borax instead. Any problems with that?
>
> Thanks,
> H.