electrolysis

Has anyone used electrolysis to remve rust from tractor parts ? If so can someone tell me how to do it. thanks R. Poe

Yes I have & it works great . I built 2 styles of vats for this system . Also if you put vinegar in a plastic bucket or milk jug & soak smaller item in it for a day or so , that works great also . If you send me your email address I can give you some info on the electrolysis system .HTH . God bless, Ken

Try this link. If it works this tells you the whole process.
http://antique-engines.com/electrol.asp

I sent you an email.

I have a semi trailer to paint and it needs the rust removed. Do I need to submerge the trailer or could I just spray it down? It would take a big tank to do a 48ft trailer this is a step deck flat bed. Or would it be more cost effective to just pay to have it sand blasted?

Click here. David............http://www.farmallcub.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=17739

(quoted from post at 19:26:20 10/28/08) I have a semi trailer to paint and it needs the rust removed. Do I need to submerge the trailer or could I just spray it down? It would take a big tank to do a 48ft trailer this is a step deck flat bed. Or would it be more cost effective to just pay to have it sand blasted?

Click to expand...

'd find a neighbour that has a olympic size swimming pool with a plastic liner and let er rip. David............

Do this outdoors or in a well ventilated place. Explosive hydrogen gas can
be generated.

1. Using a non-conductive container, dissolve some Arm & Hammer Washing
Soda in water. The amount is not critical. If in doubt, use plenty

2. Immerse the rusty part in the solution.

3. Immerse a "waste" electrode in the solution; leave a little bit of it
stick up out of the solution. A coffee can with both ends cut out, split
down the side, and flattened, works well. Make sure the waste electrode
does not touch the rusty part.

4. Hook the negative (black) lead of your battery charger to the rusty piece.

5. Hook the positive (red) lead to the portion of the waste electrode that
is out of the water. (If you immerse your battery charger"s alligator clip
in the solution you will ruin it.)

6. Adjust the voltage selector ( 6- 12 ) to the highest setting that does
_not_ exceed the current capability of your charger.

7. Let the electricity do it"s job. Depending upon the severity of the
rust and the amount of current, this will take from two hours to several days.

8. Remove the part from the solution. It will be black.
Scrub under a stream of water with a wire brush or a 3-M "green pad" to
remove this. In most cases this will come off easily. If you have a
pressure washer, try using it.

9. Immediately dry the part. If pitted, use a phosphoric acid etch
solution (available at paint stores) to prevent "flash" rust. If you don"t
do this, the black stuff that remains will soon flash to red rust; however,
it is loose and removes easily.

Bob

I use Swimming pool ( Muriatic ) acid from Lowes on small parts and castings. Try it on some old hammer heads etc. It doesn't seem to do anything to the base metal , just eats the rust , and quick !! Be carefull and wear eye protection.....

The solution does not do the rust removal it is the electrical flow. So yes to do it this way you would need to submerge the trailer... Go get a wire wheel or sandblaster.

Jeff


BTP the NPS has the USS Monitor in a big tank using this method right now.