Building an electrolytic tank to derust.

[richards72chevy]

Good info to know.

[In The Ten Ring]

Well maybe I should have tried Fritz's idea after all!

After 2.5 hours of running, I removed a lot of rust but there is still plenty to go. I did get rid of most of the paint. *It may have flash rusted after clean up though.

I'll go again tomorrow and see what happens, I'll go for 12 hours.

[Davidf]

I recommend that any acid, other than phosphoric, NOT be used. Read up on the subject and you may learn that acids are problematic in the long run. Media blasting is by far the most efficient method in removing rust.

[In The Ten Ring]

I am running the process again today, this time for 10 hours, on just one bracket.

Davidf, I do have an aversion to using HCl for anything, other than eating. A media blaster is something I'll need to buy/build if I am going to keep up in this hobby.

[In The Ten Ring]

I just checked and wow, it looks like it's really doing well this time! I guess because I am only doing one bracket instead of two.

Now, if I use this method on my rockers and fender, what should I do for priming? I am going to have these panels painted at a body shop. I imagine they'll flash rush immediately, so what do I do?

[swamp rat]

Originally Posted by Davidf

I recommend that any acid, other than phosphoric, NOT be used. Read up on the subject and you may learn that acids are problematic in the long run. Media blasting is by far the most efficient method in removing rust.

I you can share specific links i'm all ears, thanks

[Fitz]

Originally Posted by swamp rat

I you can share specific links i'm all ears, thanks

Don't worry. He can't because there are none. Here's before, during and after 20 minutes in a 3 parts water, one part HCl bath.
Balanced valence equation is: FeO + 2 HCLO4 = Fe(CLO4)2 + H2O

No fumes, no poisons and no rust problem! The Fe(CLO4)2 precipitates out as an inert solid leaving behind a mildly more diluted solution of HCl and....Water!

[In The Ten Ring]

Wow Fitz, that's great man. Thanks for the pics and the equation, along with detailing the results. You may have won me over. :-)

Here is what I have after 8 hours of running. Top bracket got the treatment, bottom did not.

[Fitz]

Originally Posted by In The Ten Ring

Wow Fitz, that's great man. Thanks for the pics and the equation, along with detailing the results. You may have won me over. :-)

Here is what I have after 8 hours of running. Top bracket got the treatment, bottom did not.

Still some rust on the top one. Wash any oil off with acetone and you might have gotten better results. None of these methods will work through even an extremely thin coating of oil. Antifreeze has a wierd chemical that fights off surfactants as well so it could also slow the process.

[In The Ten Ring]

Acetone first eh? I'll give that a go if I do this again.

Thanks.

[In The Ten Ring]

I ran electrolysis again today and even the 40 degree temps, it was effective. I have found, that when I combine it with an evaporust soak, it really cleans the metal. Check out the pic.

This bracket was run in the tank for about 10 hours and then soaked in Evaporust. I did not use any other derusting treatment (like a wire brush). Within minutes of the Evaporust soak, it looked like it does now.