I finally experimented with electrolysis last night

[deathwish2]

Cool! Why the heck did I wait so long to try this!?!?!

All I have for a DC power supply is a small 12v 'bench test' supply unit from Radio Shack, so I can't do anything very quick or very large. It only puts out 40 watts at 12v DC. So . . .

I stared out with a piece of chain as my 'anode' and a rusty file as my victim . . .errr . . . 'cathode' both sitting in a small gallon-size container with a washing soda solution. After a couple hours of fizzing, I removed it, gave it a light brushing with a brass brush and *wow* !!!

I think I've found a new hobby. }>

I've got a Disston back saw (well, one end of it) in there while I'm at work today. ;)

Now to convince my wife that I need a 'real' car battery charger, 10A+, so that I can buy more 'inexpensive' rusted tools instead of all the 'expensive' fancy shiny ones. ;)

[Sawduster]

It does a heck of a job, eh? I calculate 3 amps you're capable of doing with that power supply. That's about max you want to do with saw steel. More and you get hydrogen hardening and then have to contend with that. With plane bodies and other stuff, it's not an issue, so you can crank up the amps. Took several days of suntanning my #12 blade to get it back to singing when I derusted it.

[Livens]

Wow, sounds really interesting deathwish2 :)

Is this hard to setup? I have alot of old rusty tools my grandfather had, including a 15-17 inch hand plane. I've been putting off cleaning them because I know how hard rust is to remove.

I have a battery charger, big Sears upright model on wheels... But what else do I need?

Thanks

[deathwish2]

Not too hard, the big thing is you need to keep things farily well ventilated if you go after big things, the tiny bubble that come up are hydrogen. :O

From the sounds of what you have (plane and a BIG charger) . . . you likely have everything else you need laying around the house.

For the 'Anode' I've seen sites that say to use everything for rebar to stainless bar stock or screen material.

You just need to stay away from soft metals like copper, aluminum and brass unless you really know what you're doing.

Here's a link with the basic set-up info . . .
http://www.stovebolt.com/techtips/ru..._derusting.htm

and one aimed more at woodworker that someone(Jerry I think ;) ) posted here a short while back in regard to re-japanning planes.
https://home.comcast.net/~rexmill/pl...ectrolysis.htm

[Sawduster]

You know, Mark, it just dawned on me that you were using a hunk of chain to refurbish an old file. I've been useing some old rasps I got from my neighbor, a farrier, to refurbish saws and planes. Tell me you're not gonna resharpen that file.

[deathwish2]

I wouldn't know how to do it. ;)

I know you can send them out for sharpening . . . but I don't think I would do it. They are cheap and easy enough to buy at the BORG. Besides, even when files perform like they're dull, a quick pass of a file card usually ungunks them and restores their bite.

This one is an old round b@stard file with no maker's name on it . . . I forget where it even came from, but it had some serious rust . . . and no handle, so it was the first victim.

I'm going to be getting a bunch of things from my wife's uncle's basement (I had posted about that a while back regarding some Disston crosscut saws) . . . I'm hoping to find a good triangular saw file in there somewhere! I know there were a lot of rusty items in a couple old tote bins a tool boxes, including a small brace, some hatchets and some files among the rusty wrenches, screwdrivers and such . . . and that's just what was on the surface. Time will tell what's down there, but the late uncle wasn't much of a tool guy . . . his late wife's first husband may have been, and he died in the 60's, so there's no telling what's down there. Because of access through the house being limited to a narrow and steep 'gangway', the cellar will be waiting until early spring . . . the attic is being emptied over the winter. Maybe there's a battery charger down there. ;) }>

[Blueraven]

Cool.

I have nice variable amp charger..

tanks for the tips.

Bluerven

[Limey]

I don't know whether the Hofstettermeister will see this and whether he can add some input...and yes I do owe you an e-mail when I return Timmer...BUT

I watched a demo being given by DMT the Diamond plate merchants and was intrigued to see them doing an electrolysis demo but instead of using Iron scrap as an anode or is it cathode.? they just used an Alumin(i)um Turkey size disposable cooking tray....filled it with a strong solution of Washing soda ...clipped one terminal to the Battery charger and the other directly to the item being treated... keeping the item clear of the tray by balancing it on an upturned plastic tub but submerged in the washing soda solution.

It was bubbling away like a goodun' and seemed a lot simpler than dangling lumps of scrap iron.

Limey

[deathwish2]

Neat idea!

I'll be keeping my eye out at the flea markets for an old stainless pot or steamer tray . . . a lot more contact with that than a puny piece of rebar.

I think I need a bigger power supply. }>

[Chris Moore]

I attended a couple of meetings of antique tool collectors when I was still living in Montgomery. One guy specialized in refurbing old tools using electrolysis. He was making a bundle by buying tools that had been unsold at flea markets, yard sales, junk shops, etc. He used a setup where the tank was one of those rubbermaid deep tub type containers with a cover. For the anode he cut scrap expanded steel to fit the bottom of the tub. Then - and this is what I thought was interesting - he suspended the tools in the solution on a section of old nylon cast net. I suppose one could use any sort of synthetic netting like that, though. He put the tool(s) on the net and lowered them into the soda solution by adjusting the spring clamps holding the net to the rim of the tub. His theory was that suspending the tools in the center of the solution meant better contact with the solution and that he could roll them over during the process to evenly expose all the surfaces. I have no idea if his theory makes any sense, but I can say that the results he got were remarkable and, according to the others in the group, significantly faster.

Chris Moore
West Palm Beach, FL