ELECTROLYSIS: The New Sandblaster

[Steve_in_Florida]

We recently encountered a situation at the shop where electrolysis was indicated.

1940-something Indian Chief motorcycle with a Red/White paint scheme (hard to match). One of the two gas tanks was pretty rusty on the inside. Possible repairs made in the past. Previous owner deceased.

Our task was to treat and stabilize the rust, while preserving the paint job.

Solution? Electrolysis using a 12-volt battery charger, washing soda, and a steel bar.

In a nutshell, this process is pretty cool.

Anyone else familiar with this subject? I'm learning all kinds of things about it.

Steve

[fjfool]

on the list for my FJ tank this winter
figure i will search utube pretty soon for any motorcycle specific videos

[FJmonkey]

Sounds like Electropolishing, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electropolishing.

[Steve_in_Florida]

Sounds like Electropolishing, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electropolishing.

Similar, but in our case, the workpiece is the cathode (-), and the anode (+) is a piece of sacrificial, scrap steel. Everything (and I do mean EVERYTHING) that is not the steel of your workpiece is removed. Grease, rust, paint, blood, vegetable matter, `roo pieces, whatever...

If you hook it up the other way, then your workpiece is what's eroding away, and that's the opposite effect that I'm looking for.

From what I'm reading, the natural process of oxidation (rusting) is a loss of electrons by the steel and a binding to oxygen to form various iron oxide compounds. The electrolysis process (in the manner we have set up) tips the equation the other way and REDUCES the iron oxides to a more stable state (hematite -> magnetite -> wustite -> iron).

(This is paraphrased from much reading, so add "I think" to anything I say here.)

I've expanded our process from exclusively doing the inside of gas tanks, to basically any sized part. Car rims, fenders, parts, etc.

Here's a couple of video links that describe the process:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ka6ArN_ehas

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a48W-hYNUug

Thought I'd share.

Steve

[movenon]

We recently encountered a situation at the shop where electrolysis was indicated.

1940-something Indian Chief motorcycle with a Red/White paint scheme (hard to match). One of the two gas tanks was pretty rusty on the inside. Possible repairs made in the past. Previous owner deceased.

Our task was to treat and stabilize the rust, while preserving the paint job.

Solution? Electrolysis using a 12-volt battery charger, washing soda, and a steel bar.

In a nutshell, this process is pretty cool.

Anyone else familiar with this subject? I'm learning all kinds of things about it.

Steve

I have used the same method cleaning cast iron for dutch oven pots and skillets. Makes them like new again.
George

[red]

Here is a good link, how-to:

http://www.stovebolt.com/techtips/rust/electrolytic_derusting.htm

Use common steel or iron for the sacrificial anodes, not stainless steel (which would make dangerous byproducts).

Cheers,
Red

[JOMPPA10]

We recently encountered a situation at the shop where electrolysis was indicated.

1940-something Indian Chief motorcycle with a Red/White paint scheme (hard to match). One of the two gas tanks was pretty rusty on the inside. Possible repairs made in the past. Previous owner deceased.

Our task was to treat and stabilize the rust, while preserving the paint job.

Solution? Electrolysis using a 12-volt battery charger, washing soda, and a steel bar.

In a nutshell, this process is pretty cool.

Anyone else familiar with this subject? I'm learning all kinds of things about it.

Steve

If it is question of rust in tank i woud use abouth 2pound Shotgun lead pellets ( abouth 1mm) and shake gas tank, sometimes paint chaker helps.

[JMR]

We recently encountered a situation at the shop where electrolysis was indicated.

1940-something Indian Chief motorcycle with a Red/White paint scheme (hard to match). One of the two gas tanks was pretty rusty on the inside. Possible repairs made in the past. Previous owner deceased.

Our task was to treat and stabilize the rust, while preserving the paint job.

Solution? Electrolysis using a 12-volt battery charger, washing soda, and a steel bar.

In a nutshell, this process is pretty cool.

Anyone else familiar with this subject? I'm learning all kinds of things about it.

Steve

If it is question of rust in tank i woud use abouth 2pound Shotgun lead pellets ( abouth 1mm) and shake gas tank, sometimes paint chaker helps.

Unfortunately it is a real bitch getting all those pellets out. I have used a length of chain.

[The General]

We recently encountered a situation at the shop where electrolysis was indicated.
Anyone else familiar with this subject? I'm learning all kinds of things about it.

Steve

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=22VjAEaI2LM&app=desktop   

[Steve_in_Florida]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=22VjAEaI2LM&app=desktop

This bloke's final method will end up removing the paint on the outside, too.

The first way `round, he was cleaning the "probe", using the tank as the sacrificial anode. The other way is how we had it set up, but ***ONLY*** on the inside of the tank. Remember, we were tasked with SAVING THE PAINT.

Lots of applications for this stuff.

Steve