electrolysis gone bad

[sluggerknuckles]

So last nite at my first attempt at electrolysis, something went oddly wrong. I used cirtistrip to get all of the paint off of a mid 50s craftsman table saw. There was pitting so being **** about it I thought that I would try electrolysis to get the rust out of the pits and clean it up for the gold hammertone paint.

I started the electrolysis last nite around 1130 and went back to it at 930 this morning. It looks like the rust grew!!!! I now have rust where I did not have it before. where I had a small patch of pits I now have increased pitting.

Was it the metal? the mixture? not enough anodes or not enough power?

If someone can shoot me a message on how to post pics I can show you what happened. I am mad for sure because it was much cleaner with the hand stripping process.

BTW. I used around six gallons of water and a half of a cup of soda ash/arm and hammer detergent. Three rebars clamped to a rubbermaid bucket. Car battery charger (there are only two settings....10 amp and 2 amp so I picked 10 amp).

Thanks for all the input. I am so mad.......

 

[pop pop]

Sounds like you got the polarity backward.

 

[Outlawmws]

Sounds like you got the polarity backward.

Positive to the sacrificial anode, neg to the part...

 

[sluggerknuckles]

I had the black lead hooked up to a copper wire that ran across three rebars purchased last nite. The red lead was wrapped around some mechanics wire(it was plated wire though...) which I ran through two mounting holes on the front and back of the side of the tale saw base that was submerged.

 

[sluggerknuckles]

and wouldnt you know that I thought that but there was a site on the internet that had it reversed.

Thanks for all the help. I am not going through that again. just a quick once over with scotchbrite and hammertone paint.

 

[Cranehead]

I had the black lead hooked up to a copper wire that ran across three rebars purchased last nite. The red lead was wrapped around some mechanics wire(it was plated wire though...) which I ran through two mounting holes on the front and back of the side of the tale saw base that was submerged.

The Black lead goes to the part being de-rusted- the Red goes to the anode- the re-bar! I remember this as the part being de-rusted will turn oxide black- so it gets the black lead. the re-bar will turn red with rust- it gets the red lead.

TC

 

[radgto]

The Black lead goes to the part being de-rusted- the Red goes to the anode- the re-bar! I remember this as the part being de-rusted will turn oxide black- so it gets the black lead. the re-bar will turn red with rust- it gets the red lead.

TC

Excellent way to remember!

I'm tagging this for future use.

 

[ZRX61]

I had the black lead hooked up to a copper wire that ran across three rebars purchased last nite. The red lead was wrapped around some mechanics wire(it was plated wire though...) which I ran through two mounting holes on the front and back of the side of the tale saw base that was submerged.

That's backwards

 

[vegasblj]

how many amps do you guys run when doing this?

 

[BJ42LX]

Thanks for all the help. I am not going through that again. just a quick once over with scotchbrite and hammertone paint.

Wait. You're admitting defeat here! Don't do it!

Change the leads and get back to us at 9pm. It will all be better by then.

 

[srmofo]

Sounds like someone has some shiny rebar, lol. Just switch tge less and go at it again

 

[joeswamp]

Yes, definitely try it again. It works really well when done right.

 

[sluggerknuckles]

after a quick coat of cirtistrip and some scotchbrite rubbing, most of it came off. It was wierd because reversing the leads actually caused more pitting. I am going to coat it with hammertone and try it again with all of the internals becuase they are all gumped up.

I also have some antique shelf brackets I am going to try tonite.


Any suggestions on getting the 30 year old caked on saw dust off, or should I throw it in the electrolysis and let it all come off?

 

[Outlawmws]

Get any plated wire out of the solution; sand it off if needed. All you want in there is iron/steel and NO SS!

Same with parts: ONLY iron or steel.

For the sawdust, it depends on how much sap is in with it. You might try turpentine.