Electrolytic Rust Removal
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 368
Likes: 4
From: . New Zealand
Electrolytic Rust Removal
I'd like to inform everyone of a neat idea (not mine) for rust removal on steel parts. I'm restoring a 57 2dr hardtop, so needless to say it's got a fair bit of rusty parts. So I was browsing the net and I came up with this set up that these guys were using for restoring tools.
It consists of a plastic tub (I'm using an old fish pond) filled with water with washing soda at 1 tablespoon per gallon.
I set up 4 anodes made of mild steel flat 2" X 1/4" 16" long with a slight crank to match the pool profile.
These are linked together by a wires to achieve continuity.
The item to be derusted is placed into the pool ensuring it does not touch the steel anodes.
I use a normal 6 amp car battery charger to supply the current, hook up the red (positive) terminal to the anode loop and the black terminal (negative) to the item to be derusted.
Immediately you should see bubbles starting to rise from the item to be derusted.
The process takes from 12 to 48 hrs depending on the rust build up. Only the rust is removed, the parent metal stays, although it will be thinner than before due to the corrosion of the surface.
At first I did not believe it, so I set up a simple test piece, which worked, so I made a bigger setup.
Now, the solution can be used as many times as you like, it does not deteriorate in effectiveness although it starts to get brown, so it's best to keep it away from the kids etc and cover it. It can be put down the sewer when it does get too disgusting, because its only really a soap base.
Kinda fun to watch, as well.
Give it a go if you need to derust steel.
It consists of a plastic tub (I'm using an old fish pond) filled with water with washing soda at 1 tablespoon per gallon.
I set up 4 anodes made of mild steel flat 2" X 1/4" 16" long with a slight crank to match the pool profile.
These are linked together by a wires to achieve continuity.
The item to be derusted is placed into the pool ensuring it does not touch the steel anodes.
I use a normal 6 amp car battery charger to supply the current, hook up the red (positive) terminal to the anode loop and the black terminal (negative) to the item to be derusted.
Immediately you should see bubbles starting to rise from the item to be derusted.
The process takes from 12 to 48 hrs depending on the rust build up. Only the rust is removed, the parent metal stays, although it will be thinner than before due to the corrosion of the surface.
At first I did not believe it, so I set up a simple test piece, which worked, so I made a bigger setup.
Now, the solution can be used as many times as you like, it does not deteriorate in effectiveness although it starts to get brown, so it's best to keep it away from the kids etc and cover it. It can be put down the sewer when it does get too disgusting, because its only really a soap base.
Kinda fun to watch, as well.
Give it a go if you need to derust steel.
Racer
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 402
Likes: 4
From: Nassau
Ive been doing it for a while using a 55 gal plastic drum. I have rebar lengths every 10" or so round the edge linked together with steel cable. I made all the connections out of the solution to avoid them being destroyed so its easy to change the rebar when its too thick with rust. I use my charger on 15amp because Im impatient and have also tried it on 255amp jump start mode lol. Ive been looking for a container that can fit my frame after getting a quote of $550 just to sandblast it. Ive been trying to convince my neighbor to give me their pos above ground pool when summer is over.
