old and rusty

[bcurrier]

The electrolysis method works great. I've used it to clean hand planes before. Try http://www3.telus.net/public/aschoepp/electrolyticrust.html for detailed instructions.

That's a good description. I used electrolysis to de-rust a 48" lathe (everything but the bed) - dozens and dozens of parts. Things I learned along the way:

Rubbermaid tubs are handy for the purpose and cheap.

The scrap piece the + is attached to has to be big enough - I started out using large nails, and wound up using heavy aluminum foil and a 16" x 4" piece of 1/4" steel. When I used foil, I tore off a long piece and rolled & wadded it to shapes that worked well with the piece being de-rusted. The foil completely deteriorates in a use or two.

Washing soda works a LOT better than baking soda. I have no idea why (any chemists here?). I can't say exactly how much to use, but I used a fair amount - maybe a half-cup per gallon.

I had to turn pieces to get all the rust off, and occasionally had to go through the process a couple of times, wire brushing between.

The water gets pretty cruddy after a few uses and has to be changed.

I generally left parts overnight in the solution with the charger going. My charger puts out a 2-amp trickle charge, which I think is a reasonable minimum.

Freshly-cleaned metal re-rusts FAST, in as little as a few hours. I wound up wiping them down immediately after taking them out of solution and wire brushing, drying them in a warm oven, and spraying several coats of a rust preventative spray. The nice thing about warm parts is that the spray dries immediately.

Take seriously the part about not submersing the + electrode. I did submerse it at first, and it took the copper coating right off. As the clip is made from steel, it's now - you guessed it - completely rusted.

Bill