A useful post on electrolysis

[Birdseye]

I came across this thread elsewhere

http://www.landyzone.co.uk/lz/f38/rust-removal-using-electrolysis-63065.html

It is a how-to-do on electrolysis. It occurred to me that it might be a handy technique for those cases where an object is really encasd in rust. Note that it can actually serve to replace metal.

I am trying to figure out the best way of removing the rust from inside a cannon barrel and am searching the interwebs vigorously.

For my needs, I think that this is one approach that I have to give a pass to simply because it seems to me that making the bath necessary (as well as a barrel length electrode) is a lot of effort for a questionable result.

Anyway, it does not remove material and is a pretty standard way of stabilizing sea found objects so I thought that it was worth a mention.

 

[TimG]

The process does work. For a bath try a piece of rainwater down pipe and for an electrode a length of heavy welding rod. Alternatively, you could go the phosphoric acid route. You'll still need a bath and its far more expensive than soda and needs to be used with caution.

Try 'Caswells' to see if they have any processes in their catalogue. http://www.caswellplating.com/

Regards

Tim. G.

 

[Birdseye]

As long as we are on rust ...

There is this stuff

http://www.safestrustremover.com/overview.asp

seems too good to be true but if it works as promised ...

The thing with the phosphates it the funky color of the metal afterwords. This stuff does not appear to have that problem.

 

[spotter]

and here http://www.bocn.co.uk/vbforum/great-restoration-tip-t11284.html?t=11284&highlight=electrolysis

 

[jeeeensy]

try adding a bit of washing powder to the electrolyte mix,,hepls break up the surface tension and works a lot better. smells better to