Posted by Sherman in Idaho [24.32.202.166] on Thursday, May 02, 2013 at 01:11:04 :
In Reply to: Electrolysis! posted by Greg Coffin [4.228.135.237] on Wednesday, May 01, 2013 at 22:50:14 :
Should work easily on running board brackets. It gets tricky when the inside of something needs to be de-rusted, or the piece is very large. I use a plastic bucket for must stuff, and a big plastic storage bin for larger stuff. A metal tank will also work, with the tank as the anode. I find stainless steel lasts much longer and stays much cleaner than any kind of plain steel scrap anodes. The plain steel gets deposits on it that block the current and have to be cleaned of from time to time, which isn't the case with stainless. Junk restaurant equipment is a good source of scrap stainless sheet.
Aside from being less hazardous to your skin and the environment than any kind of acid dip, the electrolytic treatment leaves a "blued" finish that is enough to prevent flash rust, it can never over-clean and start eating into or roughening your workpiece like acid will, and it doesn't require any neutralization beyond brushing and rinsing in plain warm water.