Electrolysis picture

Just wanted to encourage anyone that has any greasy, rusty, or paint-layered tractor parts to take advantage of the long weekend and set up an electrolysis tank.

These parts were in the tank for 15 hours, then a blast from the power washer. No matter how often I use this process, it never fails to amaze me.

I have the recipe on my website if anyone is interested.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Frank-in-Tallahassee
70D // 855 // VAC
[email protected]

• F-I-T's webpage.....ALWAYS under construction....

I'll give the nickel description, and then you can read the full length paper that I have on my website if you need more.

Electrolysis as we discuss it here, is an electrochemical "Cell". The electrolyte is either Sodium Hydroxide (Lye or Caustic soda) or Sodium Carbonate (Soda Ash or Washing Soda).

You take a plastic bucket, tub, vat, or swimming pool, and fill it with a solution of 1 tablespoon per gallon of electrolyte. Then you hang a piece of scrap iron or steel in the tub, and hang the part you want to clean in the tub so they do not touch. Take a 12 volt battery charger and hook the red lead to the scrap electrode, and the black lead to the part. When you turn on the power, the part will slowly begin to give off very small bubbles as will the scrap metal electrode. This is Hydrogen and Oxygen being gassed off. These bubbles will get under everything on the surface of the part and lift old oil, grease, paint, chewing gum, Permatex, etc. The electrochemical action will convert Red Rust to an inert form, Black Oxide, that is paintable and primable, or easily removed with a pressure washer or a plastic pot scrubber.

don't hook the leads up backwards or you will "rust " your part and it will dissolve over time. But, if it's hooked up right, as long as the power is on, you can let the parts in the bath for as long as you want, and the part will not change size in any way. It will only loose it's red rust, dirt and paint.

After cleaning, I usually power wash, rinse, and allow to dry, Then I apply my favorite primer, and the part is chemically rust free.

That's about it.

I published an article on the process a while back, and it's on my website under "Restoration Tips".

Frank-in-Tallahassee
70D // 855 // VAC
[email protected]

• F-I-T's webpage.....ALWAYS under construction....

I'll second your motion... electrolysis is pretty great. Baggsy is the one who got me started on using it.

FROM THIS:

TO THIS:

in three days.

-Schotte

I have an old carpet outside where I park my tractor to keep the weeds from growing.

That OTHER tractor is inside at my work (home of the digital camera.)

Thanks for the laugh! -Schotte

So in three days, it grew a carbruetor....maybe in a week it'll grow a new air cleaner!

Ha! ;>)