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Electrolysis rust removal.
jossey - 16/10/12 at 06:43 PM

I got my rusty cortina uprights today so I thought I would have a go at electrolysis.

So with a bucket of water with soda crystals and a battery charger I started work on stripping the hubs....

From this.....



So after hours of stripping and setting up....






Then just 4 hours later with a little wire brush action and an old towel.....





So this cost me £1 in soda crystals n an old bucket....... Well impressed.

I think it needs a little longer but I'm happy with 4 hours change......

40inches - 16/10/12 at 07:00 PM

Very good init? I ran out of things to de-rust, even things I didn't need

jossey - 16/10/12 at 07:05 PM

Ye it's brilliant...

Does it take paint of rusty items...

wilkingj - 16/10/12 at 07:12 PM

Yes... but DONT use anything with Chrome, or stainless steel, or nickel in it as the sacrificial plate.

It gives of Hexavalent Chromium which is very nasty.

Just use a bit of plain old common a garden Mild Steel. (also cheap and cheerful)
OK you have to clean it off every now and then, but its a bit safer.

Its a brill process, and works well... Just dont use anything with a chromium content in it as the sacrificial plate..



Just my 2d's worth for any newbies reading this.



EDIT:
And dont forget to connect the right way around, polarity wise



[Edited on 16/10/2012 by wilkingj]

jossey - 16/10/12 at 07:13 PM

Thanks :-)

ed1801 - 16/10/12 at 07:32 PM

Can I just confirm this doesn't damage the stub axle bearing faces?

jossey - 16/10/12 at 07:38 PM

I tried to make sure I don't put them in the solution but I've been told many people submerge it all.

See below. Then I just top it up to the top of the rust level....



[Edited on 16/10/12 by jossey]

NigeEss - 16/10/12 at 10:12 PM

quote:
Originally posted by ed1801
Can I just confirm this doesn't damage the stub axle bearing faces?


Doesn't affect anything that's still shiny steel, only the rusty bits.

Submerge the entire thing, it'll be fine an dandy.

ed1801 - 17/10/12 at 07:15 AM

Cool thanks (off to attic to get rusty MX5 uprights)

jossey - 17/10/12 at 08:39 AM

quote:
Originally posted by ed1801
Cool thanks (off to attic to get rusty MX5 uprights)


:-) enjoy...

Mr Whippy - 17/10/12 at 11:05 AM

well done, I've got a set of steel rims bubbling way right now, best process I ever came across and actually made rust fun!

Mr Whippy - 17/10/12 at 11:08 AM

quote:
Originally posted by jossey
Ye it's brilliant...

Does it take paint of rusty items...


won't touch paint unless there was rust under it already, usually a lot more paint comes off than you first thought

40inches - 17/10/12 at 11:25 AM

Here is the original article that started it all. LINK There is a section near the end on using stainless.