Restoration Tip: Electrolysis Derusting

[Dave Schindel]

I've been using vinegar and it works great.Just soak the parts for 2 days or so,and an air blast will remove most rust.Then a wire wheel or brush to finish.It's relatively clean,esp.compared to molasses,and doesn't need to be mixed.And environmentally friendly.

[Bob Carriere]

...Sail surplus branch has a whole stack of deteriorating 303 rifle boxes which they may part with a lot of them for some $$$......... wood is bad but the hardware may be in good shape.


Chemistry....... Duh..... don't mix washing soda and lye unless you are trying to remove stains from your underwear. .......... I used Lye INSTEAD of washing soda as it is more agressive...... seriously the lye solution conducts electricity like wild fire....... it is a serious degreaser and paint remover.....so three jobs done in one soak..... but it is toxic.....as in corrosive...... when I dipped my hands in teh solution to fish out parts my skin came out very clean and slightly slimmy....... which is indicative that body fat is being desolved.

I hung whole CMP axles from the tractor bucket soaking one half the axle at a time....... axles came come like brand new.

Bob

[maple_leaf_eh]

Bob: Can you keep the chests at SAIL as our little secret? And, you earned you rations today.

Home Hardware not only had Arm & Hammer "So Clean, super washing soda", but the salesman knew exactly where to find in and there were 4 boxes on the shelf. The little half-width store at Heron Rd and Bank street moved up the hill nearer to Alta Vista. Bigger and much less cramped, but with no less high quality service. Phooey on Walmart, Zellers, Canadian Tire and Shoppers Drug Mart!

So, this weekend the electolysis tank will be reconfigured to Mk II. More to follow.

[Bob Carriere]

Seriously they have tons of them and they kept them outside for too long.... the wood is shot.....hardware os al salvageable...... if you are looking at some small business venture make them a reasonable offer for the lot.... we could probably fill my 20 foot trailer and you can store extras at the barn...... will cost you fuel and burgers plus a few that might disappear while in storage but not without your knowledge.

Next thing is you will need a jig and a good router to cut the boxed fingers for the corners...... repro hard wood available from small saw mills in Clarence cheaper than Home Despot...... Lee Valley here I come....

If I can be of any service..... whisper!!!!

Cheers.

Bob C

[Bob Moseley (RIP)]

Hi Bob - what is Lye?

Bob

[Bob Carriere]

...is what you tell your wife when you buy one too many CMP.....


Lye is a corrosive alkaline substance, commonly sodium hydroxide (NaOH, also known as 'caustic soda') or historically potassium hydroxide (KOH, from hydrated potash).

Not sure what the relationship is between "caustic soda" and "Washing soda" but I know it is not club soda.....!!!!

Boob

[Alex Blair (RIP)]

Originally Posted by Bob Carriere

...is what you tell your wife when you buy one too many CMP.....


Lye is a corrosive alkaline substance, commonly sodium hydroxide (NaOH, also known as 'caustic soda') or historically potassium hydroxide (KOH, from hydrated potash).

Not sure what the relationship is between "caustic soda" and "Washing soda" but I know it is not club soda.....!!!!

Boob

Bob.
Sodium bi carbonate will make you burp after a bad night in the barn..
Sodium bicarbonate, also called sodium hydrogen carbonate and commonly known as baking soda, has NaHCO3 for a chemical formula.

Sodium carbonate (also known as washing soda or soda ash), Na2CO3 is a sodium salt of carbonic acid.

Don't mix them up unless you want to wash your insides..
I use it all the time..Mix in a spray bottle with water it will remove grease too.Great stuff.
Sold under the name Boraxo or those fancy products that remove stains off anything you can think of...
Just a fancy ,expensive way to get your money for cheap washing soda..
All the same stuff..Sodium carbonate...not BI CARBONATE...Sodium CARBONATE<<>