yes it's me...trying something stupid

I've been reading that stuff tonight on electrolysis and thought I might try it out on my stuff I'm cleaning with vinegar. So I hung a bit of iron flat bar over the side of the plastic tub and have wired it up + to the iron and - to the brake back plate. Not much is happening bubble wise fizzing on the iron, nill on the back plate, chargers on high...hmm that’s disappointing, thought it would be like a tank of piranhas

am I missing the secret Chemical-X?

or is this really stupid and no wonder I failed in chemistry

did you add the baking soda?

should I add that? I was scared of an explosion due to me using vinegar instead of water, I was playing it safe

I have found two tubs of super cook Bicarbonate of soda, I think I could use one without her noticing.

I have 15ltrs in the tub, how much should I add?

[Edited on 9/3/08 by Mr Whippy]

electrolysis and vinegar are 2 different things aren't they? (i don't know)

i wouldn't recommend using vinegar and too much baking powder though...

well things are fizzing mainly on the iron rod which doesn't seem quite right. I changed the polarity round a while ago to see if that help...it didn't

Maybe it's not going to work, just thought it worth a try. I'll add a spoonful of soda and see if that helps, thought it would be great given how much the vinegar was doing to the rust and didn't like the sound of the metal going black as everyone said it did with electrolysis.

Cheers guys I'll let you know if something bad happens or maybe you'll here it on the news

BOOM!

From vague memories of school chemistry, I would have thought the vinegar would react with the baking soda to give carbon dioxide with no effect on the metal. You are killing the planet.

It has all gone very quiet in Whippyworld ........

Helloooo??? Whipster???

you need washing soda not the cooking type

Electrolsis needs alkaline base using n acid base will neutralise the electrolytic efect if I remember chemisty!

Caber

Add some salt and chips, it wont help but it is something tasty to eat while you watch it. Surely if you add bi-carb it will fizz into to a large foam ball, that is how some fire extinguishers work. Good luck.

Never heard of anyone using vinegar as the basis for electrolysis Water and soda crystals is the way to go.

you have 15L of vinegar in your tub?? That would keep a chippy going for ages!!

I thought vinegar was used to simply soak the part in as it is actually a 3% acetic acid solution. Electrolysis needs an alkali solution to work as mentioned up the thread so there's no point connecting up the charger to it with vinegar.

I simply used water, battery charger, and part of a bag of washing soda crystals that i got from the supermarket for 59p or so. Worked a treat on the roll bar that had 5 years of rust on it!!


Image deleted by owner

[Edited on 9/3/08 by Paul TigerB6]

Baking soda will neutralise the vinegar. If you put electrodes in acid (vinegar) surely all you have created is a battery?

i used dishwasher salt
also i found if you used hot water it worked quicker and the reaction keeps the water hot?

Caustic soda is not baking powder nor is it baking soda

quote:

---

Originally posted by BenB
Caustic soda is not baking powder nor is it baking soda

---

True....

Baking soda = sodium bicarbonate
Soda crystals = sodium carbonate decahydrate
Caustic soda = sodium hydroxide

going from pretty mild to aggressive.
If soda crystals don't get your pot fizzing use the caustic soda. Just be bloody careful, its horrible stuff if it comes in contact with skin...

I've done plenty of electrolysis with a couple of spoons of washing soda in a big plastic tub. 12V power supply and a couple of hours = no rust.

the closer you can get the electrodes together the quicker it works (or the more fizz anyway!) I try for around 1cm.

Still no word from Whippy - I reckon he's either been overcome with the toxic fumes or he's blown himself up

quote:

---

Originally posted by RazMan
Still no word from Whippy - I reckon he's either been overcome with the toxic fumes or he's blown himself up

---

I have to wonder why Wippy doesn't appear to have read the second most read thread on this site

More time reading, less time posting ??

Sorry Mick

quote:

---

Originally posted by BenB
True....

Baking soda = sodium bicarbonate
Soda crystals = sodium carbonate decahydrate
Caustic soda = sodium hydroxide

going from pretty mild to aggressive.
If soda crystals don't get your pot fizzing use the caustic soda. Just be bloody careful, its horrible stuff if it comes in contact with skin...

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by RazMan
Still no word from Whippy - I reckon he's either been overcome with the toxic fumes or he's blown himself up

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by BenB
... Just be bloody careful, its horrible stuff if it comes in contact with skin...

---

I thought that if you used vinegar, you just leave the item to soak for a few days/week. No electrics involved.
Electrolysis is quicker, but more messing about.