Removing rust by electrolosys. Anyone try this?

[RickM]

Anyone use the method described below to remove rust? Attaching battery charger leads to an item in water sounds risky.

I'm guessing Washing Soda is Borax....?


"Why don't folks electrolytically convert the rust? Drop the rusty bit in some water with washing soda (in a plastic tub.) Plug in your automotive battery charger and attach the positive to some rebar in the same water, the negative to the item that needs to be de-rusted. Just don't let the rebar and the rusty piece of metal touch. Go read a good book and come back a few hours later. The rust wipes off with no trouble at all and non-rusty metal is completely unaffected. It will remove paint. I'm de-rusting and re-enameling an 80 year old stove this way and it's effortless. You don't have to work so hard!"

[Hugh R]

Don't know if that would work with rust, but it certainly does with silver tarnish. Take your best sterling silver put in in a pot of water with some scrap aluminum add as much table salt as the water will hold and boil it for 20 minutes. It converts through electrolysis silver oxide to aluminum oxide without removing any silver. You then scrub the aluminum oxide off of the sacrifical aluminum. Just make sure its silver not pewter!

[juanbenae]

is that like when you put a book under you pillow when you sleep and absorb the knowledge?

[M.D. Holloway]

Rick,
I have something that will chemically convert the metal oxides to a state that no longer continues to degrade. I think I have your shipping address, but PM it anyway and I will send you something.

[Willem Fick]

Washing soda is Sodium Hydroxide (NaOH if I remember correctly). It's also great for removing dirt, especially oil and grease, from metal parts.

Always wear gloves, and keep it well clear from Aluminium parts though!

[RickM]

Mike, PM sent but you're mailbox is full. I'll try to Email.

[seventyeight911]

Ya, ive done that, kiddy pool, borax hand soap, and a large battary charge. what you do is bround the part with one clamp, and blace a piece of stainless around the part as best as you can without it touching and connect the positive clamp to that. it works pretty good