Electrolytic Rust Removal

[SteveW]

Guys,

Way back on the old list someone described a method of rust removal using a plastic bucket, a battery changer and some electrolyte (water + sugar soap).

I've been having loads of success removing rust from complex steel shapes by simply sitting on my bum watching TV and just letting it happen. My main problem has been finding a good anode material, the cathode being the rusty lump.

Thus far:
1. piece of steel angle: gets even more rusty and the process eventually stops.
2. piece of alloy extrusion: gets covered with white cruddy stuff and the process stops.
3. odd bit of 15mm copper pipe: works great but gets eaten away very quickly.
4. A bit of lead flashing (brushed to bright metal): so far the best yet, goes black but process seems unaffected (so far).

Has any one else tried this process and have a better material for the anode?

[alanstepney]

Works well with stainless steel.

[Tel]

Yeah AJ, I use a piece of stainless (as per your original posting) - a bit of sheet about 5" x 2" x 1/16"

I also run the battery charger through a fan speed control switch so I've got a variable output - just wind 'er up til it is bubbling nicely

[catgate]

Another, possbly cheaper, electrolyte is washing soda (as it is called). It works just as well.
Another method, which was alleged to work well, was simply leaving the rust metal in a solution of molasses. There was much support for this method in the pages of "Classic Motor Cycle" in the 80's.