Rust Removal Adventures: Electrolysis, Acid etc

[Onoff]

1 hour ago, Construction Channel said:

You had better think of another project quick. Else people might start mentioning the bathroom. 

Tree house roof tomorrow...maybe!

[Onoff]

Need to derust a couple of steel wheels.

 

 

And to think everything in the photo was being thrown out!

 

 

My 38 year old CB pack made from a battery charger:

 

 

10ml of these per litre, so 350ml into 35 ltrs of water:

 

 

And leave to ferment:

 

 

Safety first:

 

 

Quite why SWMBO moans...

 

[Onoff]

Bye bye rust!

 

 

[SteamyTea]

On 6/3/2017 at 18:59, Construction Channel said:

You had better think of another project quick

Didn't @JSHarris mention weedkiller from salty water and electrolyses.

 

Can it remove body hair, then I won't have to fix @newhome's epilator, would get me out of a hole

[newhome]

24 minutes ago, SteamyTea said:

Can it remove body hair, then I won't have to fix @newhome's epilator, would get me out of a hole

 

S'ok @Nickfromwales fixed the epilator to deal with his bear pelt while he was here. The shower is now blocked however .

[Onoff]

35 minutes ago, SteamyTea said:

would get me out of a hole

 

 

I believe washing soda itself has weed killing properties. In the States where soda blasting is big they sell the waste residue to the rail companies. My missus wants to "pour some on the patio" to test it's effectiveness at removing the green algae(?).

 

"When I've done yer wheels luv!"

 

Tbh when I've got the heavy stuff off I'll give them a grit blast before painting but this should save on the blasting grit. Not sure whether to knock off the balancing weights that are on there?

 

Edited April 9, 2018 by Onoff

[Roger440]

1 hour ago, Onoff said:

 

 

I believe washing soda itself has weed killing properties. In the States where soda blasting is big they sell the waste residue to the rail companies. My missus wants to "pour some on the patio" to test it's effectiveness at removing the green algae(?).

 

"When I've done yer wheels luv!"

 

Tbh when I've got the heavy stuff off I'll give them a grit blast before painting but this should save on the blasting grit. Not sure whether to knock off the balancing weights that are on there?

 

 

Knock the weights off. Or they wont be there when you take the wheel out. Plus they will contaminate your tank.

[Onoff]

Weights duly knocked off and back in the tank! The rust on the wheel is being transferred to the sacrificial anodes (aka bolts).

 

 

[Onoff]

Coming on:

 

 

[Onoff]

Decided to have a play with the Aldi compressor + Lidl sand blasting gun:

 

 

 

[Construction Channel]

I hope you were wearing gloves and a mask. I’m no mr safety but blasting is a dangerous game. 

[Onoff]

51 minutes ago, Construction Channel said:

I hope you were wearing gloves and a mask. I’m no mr safety but blasting is a dangerous game. 

 

Gloves and a mask but I did it topless which wasn't the best idea tbh with the blow back! 

 

Running out of blasting medium now. Been advised to look for J-Blast Supafine. Need somewhere close I can buy 25kg without getting stung for hefty p&p!

[SteamyTea]

14 hours ago, Onoff said:

did it topless

It is the only way to keep your clothes clean.

I have a vision of an oiled gladiator with a blaster in his hand.

Shall get my coat.

Edited April 15, 2018 by SteamyTea

[Construction Channel]

2 hours ago, SteamyTea said:

It is the only way to keep your clothes clean.

I have a vision of an oiled gladiator with a blaster in his hand.

Shall get my coat.

which one?

 

 

[SteamyTea]

This is all the protection needed.  Now we know who bought it at the Crowe's divorce sale.

(making my scrotum itch just looking at it)

 

Edited April 15, 2018 by SteamyTea

[Onoff]

Is there any way to gauge when my washing soda based electrolyte is exhausted? Thinking test strips? I presume it's an alkaline medium?

 

So if it is exhasted can I just add more soda crystals and give everything a stir?

[Onoff]

The bloody dustbin leaked and CT1 wouldn't fix it!

 

Made a new batch in a water butt. 45l water with 450ml soda crystals. 

 

 

The electrode "ring" could do with being set lower tbh:

 

 

24vdc psu this time at 5A and it's going berserk!

 

 

[SteamyTea]

Looks like my mates homebrew, probably tastes better.

[Onoff]

2 minutes ago, SteamyTea said:

Looks like my mates homebrew, probably tastes better.

 

That's something I keep meaning to get back into, home brew.  Started making it when I was about 12. Happy Summer days with a Corona lemonade bottle full of Boots Continental Lager etc. Wine too.....and cider, ginger beer, mead.....

[SteamyTea]

18 minutes ago, Onoff said:

Corona

"It's frothy man"

Just like my wee in the mornings

[Onoff]

This is weird...the second steel wheel. The electrolysis has removed huge amounts of rust but the resultant surface is really rough, black and almost oily, stains yours hands like nothing else. I don't remember having the same amount of this stuff on the first wheel. It reminds me of when Jenolite converts iron oxide (red) to iron sulphide (black) but that I'm sure is like a hard substance. Thinking the only way to remove this black stuff is sand blasting of which I was hoping to keep to a minimum. Maybe it just needs to be left in the tank for longer?

 

 

 

[Onoff]

Anyone used citric acid as a deruster? It "gets in places" where electrolysis, being line of sight, doesn't.

 

Supposedly nearly as good as Bilt Hamber Deox-C which is damn good but I've run out and don't want to buy any as it's expensive.

 

I'm going to get some citric acid from Wilko and have a go but heat in the ancient heated tank I made 35+ years back. Was meant for electroplating PCBs originally. Just found it in a clear out. 

 

Got a bearing assembly off the mower I need to loosen up. Currently pre soaking in finest McDonald's diet coke!

Edited August 19, 2019 by Onoff

[Jeremy Harris]

I've used phosphoric acid to convert rust to iron phosphate  a fair bit, years ago.  Works well, and isn't too expensive: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Azure-Phosphoric-Acid-Descaler-Rust-Remover-30-Safe-On-Metal-Surfaces-5L/122401133301?hash=item1c7fad12f5:g:L9AAAOSwtBZbu3jY

[joe90]

Timely reading!!!, I have just bought an old cylinder mower which has a fair amount of rust on various parts, I was going to wire brush with angle grinder then hammerite. Would I be better off using above acid stuff? Is there a particular way to get good results?.

[Gone West]

I remember in the 70s using a IIRC pink gel rust convertor based on phosphoric acid. I can't think of the name. After that I always seemed to be using copious amounts of Waxoyl. Cars always rusted away in those days. Don't see many rusty cars any more.