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Rust Removal with Electrolysis

MATERIALS:

• Non-conductive container

• Battery charger (more amps the better)

• Sacrificial electrode – a piece of ferrous metal (rebar is good -

Do Not use Stainless Steel)

• Arm and Hammer LAUNDRY soda (called “washing soda”)

• Wire/cable for connecting electrodes together

• Water

• Small length of chain to suspend rusty part in the solution

SETUP:

1. Solution – 1⁄2 cup of washing soda to 5 gallons of water (or one

(1) tablespoon of washing soda to one (1) gallon of water)

2. Mix solution and give soda time to dissolve – mix again

3. Insert ANODE(s) in solution with about 4” sticking above

solution – electrically connect all ANODES to each other

4. Suspend rusty part in solution – must NOT touch any

electrode

5. Connect battery charger – NEGATIVE (+) to CATHODE AND

POSITIVE (-) to ANODE

6. Place electrolysis tank outside or in WELL ventilate area – it

will produce Hydrogen gas

SAFETY:

• Turn off the battery charger before touching anything in the tank – it will SHOCK you

• Hydrogen gas will burn explosively – well-ventilated and distant from flames/sparks

• Wear Safety Googles and Gloves: Washing soda solutions are alkaline (base) and will irritate skin and

eyes.

• DO NOT USE TABLE SALT – it will create chlorine gas (extremely toxic) at the positive (CATHODE) lead.

• DO NOT COVER the electrolysis tank because it will trap the hydrogen gas, increasing the risk of ignition.

TERMINOLOGY:

CATHODE: the rusty part

NEGATIVE to CATHODE

ANODE: the sacrificial metal

POSITIVE to ANODE

ADVANTAGES OF ELECTROLYSIS

• Requires the least manual labor.

• If more than one object has fused

together by rust, electrolysis can break

these bonds of rust and separate them

from each other.

• Unlike other methods, electrolysis can

clean rust in the smallest of corners and

crevices.

• Does not damage the metal (It can’t

repair the damage rust caused though)

NOTE:

• Electrolysis only works on ferrous

metals like iron or steel.

• It does not work on non-ferrous

metals like copper, bronze or lead.