Restoration Tip: Electrolysis Derusting

[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<<>

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Some links I came across on another forum, no idea if they were posted here already:

http://schoepp.hylands.net/electrolyticrust.html

http://www.metalworking.com/dropbox/...es/E-CLEAN.TXT

http://www.htpaa.org.au/article-electro.php

[Harry Moon]

I think we should put the best information at the top of this thread so the next guy doesn't use a pound of sodium carbonate per gallon instead of a teaspoon or two.
like I just did and then came in after everything is set up only to read the rest of the thread again.

[Bob Carriere]

So what happened Harry....... did you bubble off the whole neighbourhood....

.....geez I am still laughing..... boy no heart burn for you !!!!!!

Bob

[Jacques Reed]

I note phosphoric acid and mollasses has been mentioned in the post a couple of times. I have used those means to de-rust most of my parts smaller than the chassis and cab floor.
For those that may want to try the phosphoric acid method, it is available as various metal prep solutions at most auto parts stores but it is a very expensive way to obtain it.
I obtain 5 litre to 20 litre drums of the stuff from ship's chemical suppliers. Commonly called "rust stain remover" it is used to tidy up paint on ships to save frequent repainting. Thats how cruise ships stay white and U-boats became rusty brown in the winter North Atlantic.
Some brands are Unitor, Allied Chemicals, Gamlen to name a few. I use in Australia "Scale Off" made by True Blue Chemicals.
Although it is an acid, about a 5% solution, and gloves are required if you get some on your fingers they won't dissove or even burn. the fact I am typing this reply proves it.

Brgds,

[jack neville]

I have tried this method using a small wheelie bin to which I added a kilo of washing soda. Worked well but my battery charger kept clicking on and off. The bigger the piece to clean the less the charger stayed on before clicking off. I am using a 12 volt charger, 2200 miliamp. Is it too small? I want to get a large wheelie bin as I like the method. Can someone recommend the charger I would be best using for best results.

I am still not sure what the best recommended ratio of washing soda to water is. There are a couple of suggestions in this thread.

[Richard Farrant]

Originally Posted by jack neville

I have tried this method using a small wheelie bin to which I added a kilo of washing soda. Worked well but my battery charger kept clicking on and off. The bigger the piece to clean the less the charger stayed on before clicking off. I am using a 12 volt charger, 2200 miliamp. Is it too small? I want to get a large wheelie bin as I like the method. Can someone recommend the charger I would be best using for best results.

I am still not sure what the best recommended ratio of washing soda to water is. There are a couple of suggestions in this thread.

Hi Jack,
If you are using only a charger, why not use a battery, with the charger connected to it, may stop the charger cutting on and off.

regards, Richard

[maple_leaf_eh]

@Jack - I think you need to read through the thread to see what ratios to use. I think you are too rich with the soda. The power supply might be working too hard. In my opinion, less soda is better than lots of soda.