Electrolysis to remove ash/stain

[jasecom89]

Hello all! I purchased a motorcycle that had been in a house fire for some spare parts since it was the same model as mine. I have been removing and throwing away most of the parts that melted or deformed as a result of the heat and I am down to mostly metal parts that were not subject to incredible amounts of heat, but were coated with a layer of ash. I would like to clean these up and sell them instead of just throwing them all away.

Would electrolysis work for removing this type of residue/stain? I will add some pics in the comments shortly, but I have tried to use various cleaning agents and some elbow grease but the parts are not cleaning very well...

 

[finn]

Throw them out or blast and paint them. You’re dealing with heat discoloration, in part.

 

[metalmagpie]

If it were me, I would certainly try electrolysis. You have nothing to lose, and often the electrolytic action blows off anything attached to the surface.

 

[jasecom89]

Here are a couple of examples of parts I'm talking about. These are profit worthy parts as long as they clean up nicely. I guess I am just going to have to give it a try and see what happens. I will post my results here.

 

[pizza]

i could be way out of line here, but profit parts? house fire? lol

is there a chance that something structural could have altered material properties (e.g. ruined heat treat from the fire or embrittled from spraying with a hose while hot) that could lead to someone's injury?

 

[jasecom89]

To make it clear, I bought this bike from a random guy that had his house burn, it was in the garage. He had liability only and there was no insurance claim on the motorcycle.

The structural integrity of the parts are (is?) fine. The tires themselves I pulled off and have on my motorcycle (except the rear, which I wore down to need replacement already). For the most part, all of the metal ended up covered in ash, the uppermost plastic/fabric burned or melted, but everything right under the surface or low to the ground was good. The battery under the seat works and was not deformed or discolored at all. The items in the top box were all completely perfect (including some expensive electronics items). I have pulled a few other parts off and are using them currently. As far as 'profits', I do just mean that I would rather clean these up and resell at a discount for those willing to pay for them, even if they are discolored, vs just throwing them away.

 

[Imatk]

I wouldn't want to be liable for someone hurting themselves if that wheel cracks. You have no idea how hot it got so you really have no idea if it's structurally sound. Just because you are willing to risk it doesn't really matter.

The only way I would sell it (and I wouldn't actually) is if I let the person know who was buying it that it might crack on them.

There's a reason they total out burned vehicles.

 

[jasecom89]

While I understand the concern, I can use my sense to determine that if plastic on the metal was not burned or deformed, then the metal was not heated enough to lose it's integrity. This is the equivalent of a taco truck warning every customer that they might get food poisoning.

 

[Firebrick43]

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Electrolysis as setup for cleaning steel/iron parts will de solve non ferrous parts.

You want to use “electropolishing”

Technically they are both a form of accelerated electrolysis but the difference is in the setup of the anodes and the solution used

Caustic vs acidic

 

[Imatk]

While I understand the concern, I can use my sense to determine that if plastic on the metal was not burned or deformed, then the metal was not heated enough to lose it's integrity. This is the equivalent of a taco truck warning every customer that they might get food poisoning.

Eating a bad taco isn't really the same as driving 70 on a wheel on a motorcyle that could be unsound.

It's not really the same at all despite your "sense".

Do you really NEED the money from a burned motorcycle enough to possibly risk someones life?

Make sure you let them know the wheel came from a burned vehicle.

 

[walta]

I wouldn't want to be liable for someone hurting themselves if that wheel cracks.

Seems to me If one rides a motorcycle, they simply do not feel risk in the same way most people do and appealing to that part of their brain is not going to work.

Walta

 

[tncatadjuster]

Seems to me If one rides a motorcycle, they simply do not feel risk in the same way most people do and appealing to that part of their brain is not going to work.

Walta

I ride, my brain works.

 

[PWC Repair]

On chrome/polished parts try metal polish and just rub it out. On the aluminum wheel, you need an aluminum cleaner. It will foam and boil the residue out of the aluminum pores. I have to agree with you......if it wasn't hot enough to melt the plastic, the metal is fine.

 

[walta]

I ride, my brain works.

Just a minute I never said your brain did not work.

I said it is wired differently than people that chouse not to ride.

One is not better than the other just different.

Clearly some people are more comfortable with risk than others.

Walta

 

[BurtEggley]

mistake to thing something fire damaged can just be "cleaned up" to look like it did before the fire. The smoke and heat change metal temper, embed carbon and hydrogen into the surface etc.. Anything plated would need to be re-plated. For anyone who works with metal and heat, they know that subtle temperature variations create different colors.