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Thread: Electrolysis Rust removal , Wheel restoration.

  1. #1
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    Electrolysis Rust removal , Wheel restoration.

    Im doing up a '49 Dodge ute to put back on the road after being laid up with a seized engine for 30 yeasrs.

    Up until now I usually put rusty stuff in a HCL acid bath but I got sick of my jeans getting eaten away by acid drips. Acid bathing also requires dipping in an Alkaline solution to neutralise the acid .

    Thought I'd cut out the Acid step and try the Electrolysis method just using a solution of Sodium Carbonate from our pool chemical supply.
    The wire mesh around the outside of bath is my sacrificial anode. 12V Positive to Anode and Negative goes to the part to be de-rusted. Pretty simple eh.
    I'm converted, wont be using Acid again, ... the wheel was in the bath 6 hours ( OK maybe the solution was too strong) . When removed from bath I gave it a good pressure wash to remove what was left of the flaky rust & paint & then a good rubbing with Metho to help dry it off. Quick paint job with Rattle Can Rustoleum to stop any further oxidising.
    Was a nice surprise to find that 1948 stamp now revealed in what was a rust encrusted junkyard rim.
    Fitted with 205/85R16 and tubeless valve, I expect the rust was caused by running a tube in its last life. Stoked to find these are actually safety rims way back before tubeless were invented.



    Stripped old tyre off, the bead took some breaking, it was fairly stuck on with rust. This is one of four wheels I bought in the hope of making up a good set of five, including the four fitted to the car. the four one the car were fitted tubeless, the four extras all have tubes, this is one of those, The tubeless rims were rust free inside, the tube rims are all like this.








    into the bath, immediately starts bubbling



    12V battery with charger attached




    rust seems to move from rim to top of water , about 2 hours in.


    about 5 hours.


    Pulled rim out & gave a good pressure wash, 70 years of rust gone .













  2. #2
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    I've used electrolysis to de-rust the inside of a Land Rover petrol tank but hadn't thought of doing a wheel rim so thanks for the idea ! Just need a big enough plastic bin.

    I did see when researching rust removal using electrolysis that someone had done quite a large trailer by building a tank and someone that lined a depression in the ground with plastic and did a car bonnet that was too fragile to blast.


    Colin
    '56 Series 1 with homemade welder
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    Could higher voltage (eg 24v) be used to make it faster?
    -Mitch
    'El Burro' 2012 Defender 90.

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    Electrolysis Rust removal , Wheel restoration.

    Quote Originally Posted by Toxic_Avenger View Post
    Could higher voltage (eg 24v) be used to make it faster?
    I’ve got a 132kVa at my site. Will that speed it up at all?

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    Is that DC?

    I have a 24v dc 3A power supply. Might be able to use it for something like this but smaller scale
    -Mitch
    'El Burro' 2012 Defender 90.

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    BradC is offline Super Moderator
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    Quote Originally Posted by Toxic_Avenger View Post
    Could higher voltage (eg 24v) be used to make it faster?
    Probably, if you could actually get the voltage that high. Your 3A power supply will be current limiting far before you get there unless you are de-rusting something the size of a 1/2" nut.

    In reality the is a sweet spot, just like electroplating. As you increase the current past there you just generate more heat and gas.

  7. #7
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    Be easy enough to build a wooden frame and line it with builders PE sheet to treat a chassis.
    I suppose you could use a swimming pool and put an entire car in there .

    I wont be bothering to have anything bead blasted , this is almost free and can be done at home without any special equipment or skills. I might even be tempted to derust my engine this way instead of an acid bath.


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    p38arover's Avatar
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    I use molasses. I've been doing it for over 25 years.

    See Getting Rid of Rust (Getting Rid of Rust)
    Last edited by p38arover; 29th June 2023 at 10:40 PM.
    Ron B.
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    Quote Originally Posted by p38arover View Post
    I use molasses. I've been doing it for over 25 years.

    See Getting Rid of Rust (Getting Rid of Rust)
    So do I but electrolysis is much faster and doesn't smell as bad.


    Colin
    Last edited by p38arover; 29th June 2023 at 10:40 PM.
    '56 Series 1 with homemade welder
    '65 Series IIa Dormobile
    '70 SIIa GS
    '76 SIII 88" (Isuzu C240)
    '81 SIII FFR
    '95 Defender Tanami
    '58 Series II (sold)
    Motorcycles :-
    Vincent Rapide, Panther M100, Norton BIG4, Electra & Navigator, Matchless G80C

  10. #10
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    Quote Originally Posted by gromit View Post
    So do I but electrolysis is much faster and doesn't smell as bad.


    Colin
    Lot less sticky to deal with also.

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