[SEL] Re: Electrolysis - Summary of Responses

Steve W. falcon at telenet.net
Sun Sep 19 11:01:03 PDT 2004


IF you use washing soda and not anything more caustic you shouldn't have
problems with MOST other metals.
DO NOT use stainless steel for the electrodes, (nasty toxic stuff
results)
Make sure you have the polarity correct, unless you like the pitted
swiss cheese look !!!!
DON'T swim in the tank !!!!!


Steve


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Peter A Forbes" <diesel at easynet.co.uk>
To: <stationary-engine at oldengine.org>
Cc: <sel at lists.stationary-engine.com>; <stationary-engine at oldengine.org>
Sent: Saturday, September 18, 2004 4:04 AM
Subject: [SEL] Re: Electrolysis - Summary of Responses


> Thanks to everyone who replied on and off-list, the information has
been really
> useful, especially the personal experiences with different electrodes
etc. I
> have condensed the replies here for brevity:
>
> The stainless steel electrode question seems to be significant, and
Orrin's use
> of Graphite looks to be a good way of going if the cost is not too
high for
> coninued usage. I do remember the discussion about Chomates on the
Lists, and
> will steer away from that method.
>
> Power requirements seem to be very modest, with pretty much any small
DC supply
> being suitable, and current draw depending more on distance between
the anodes
> and objects being descaled than almost anything else.
>
> Electrolyte seems to last well, only water loss through electrolytic
breakdown
> and evaporation being noted.
>
> Disposal of the remaining electrolyte looks to be fairly easy, I have
checked
> with our own local water authority and there is no problem with just
soda
> solution as long as any metallic solids have been taken out.
>
> Paint and grease removal surprised me a little, but I assume that the
> electrolysis gets at rust underneath these deposits and loosens them
off, rather
> than the solution/process getting at them directly?
>
> Speed of rust formation after rust removal has been quoted as a
problem, and
> Sodium Silicate mentioned as a solution. More information on this
would be
> appreciated.
>
> Craig Matthews made the following comment:
>
> "One note, make sure there is no other metals in the solution besides
cast iron,
> steel or sheet metal, brass, copper, aluminum and babbit will stop the
process
> and make a mess (from experience) "
>
> That is a bit ambiguous :-))  I read the intended text as: "Nothing
but Cast
> Iron or Steel" ?  If not, could Craig correct the punctuation so it
reads
> "right" please?
>
> Andy Nicholson used a 28V supply, running at about 6amps on his setup,
and Bill
> Dickerson's trailer chassis example on his website used an 80V welder
power
> source, so voltage is not too critical. Use of excessive current just
warms up
> the solution and causes more gassing, with no apparent increase in the
rust
> removal rate.
>
> I think that covers most of the points made.
>
> Thanks again guys, if there are any more items that we need to know
about,
> please let us know.
>
> Peter
> --
> Peter & Rita Forbes
> Email Address:
> diesel at easynet.co.uk
> Web Pages for Engine Preservation:
> http://www.oldengine.org/members/diesel
>
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>




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