06-02-2020, 12:44 PM
I find de-rusting by electrolysis is very effective.
Get a large bucket and a sheet of 20 gauge steel. Cut the steel to make a plate that goes around the inside of the bucket with a lead connected to it.
Connect another lead to the item to be de-rusted, fill the bucket with a solution of washing soda (sodium carbonate). Put the item to be de-rusted, attached to its lead, in the centre of the bucket, immersed in the solution, make sure it can't touch the sheet round the edges.
Now connect the lead going to the 20 gauge sheet to the positive pole of a 6V battery. Connect the item to be de-rusted to the negative pole. You'll need to connect a charger to hold up the battery...
Leave for between 2 and 24 hours. You should see bubbles rising. Beware, they are bubbles containing hydrogen, so no naked lights! At the end of the time, you can then remove the item, wash it carefully with clean water and wire brush it, the rust will fall off! If there's still stubborn rust, return to the bath for another few hours. Only parts with "line of sight" to the 20 gauge sheet will get cleaned so you may need to reposition the item several times.
Note: DO NOT ALLOW Stainless Steel into the bath, don't use Stainless bolts or nuts. The chromium leaches into the solution and forms some nasty, poisonous compounds.
You can use a 12V battery to speed up the process but you'll need a heavy duty charger as the current flow will be quite high, perhaps 10A.
Just finished doing the block, head and con-rods for the Top Hat engine.....Photo's to follow.
Get a large bucket and a sheet of 20 gauge steel. Cut the steel to make a plate that goes around the inside of the bucket with a lead connected to it.
Connect another lead to the item to be de-rusted, fill the bucket with a solution of washing soda (sodium carbonate). Put the item to be de-rusted, attached to its lead, in the centre of the bucket, immersed in the solution, make sure it can't touch the sheet round the edges.
Now connect the lead going to the 20 gauge sheet to the positive pole of a 6V battery. Connect the item to be de-rusted to the negative pole. You'll need to connect a charger to hold up the battery...
Leave for between 2 and 24 hours. You should see bubbles rising. Beware, they are bubbles containing hydrogen, so no naked lights! At the end of the time, you can then remove the item, wash it carefully with clean water and wire brush it, the rust will fall off! If there's still stubborn rust, return to the bath for another few hours. Only parts with "line of sight" to the 20 gauge sheet will get cleaned so you may need to reposition the item several times.
Note: DO NOT ALLOW Stainless Steel into the bath, don't use Stainless bolts or nuts. The chromium leaches into the solution and forms some nasty, poisonous compounds.
You can use a 12V battery to speed up the process but you'll need a heavy duty charger as the current flow will be quite high, perhaps 10A.
Just finished doing the block, head and con-rods for the Top Hat engine.....Photo's to follow.