Hello all
I have noticed that you gentlemen have problems with tank sealants and rust.
Has anyone tried removing the rust via Electrolysis .
It is a simple process with a battery charger.
Cheers Darren

email (option): Darrenacartwright@yahoo.com.au

Hi Darren, that is a very good point and a process I'd completely forgotten about. I've never done it but I'd be interested to know the set up.
I once spoke to a bloke who restored a 1905 bike, he said it was a solid lump of rust and he removed it this way.

email (option): horror@blueyonder.co.uk

Hi Darren,

I've heard of several different processes. Would you please care to share yours? What anode, solution, and voltage do you use?

Thanks,

Kevin

Hello Darren,

Please check this link. I hope this is helpful for you.
http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/motorbikes/70515-fuel-tank-rust-removal-electrolysis-rust-proofing.html

Regards:Pratap

email (option): prataphenry@gmail.com

That's very useful to know. But he does all that work and then puts sealer in it to stop it rusting. He might as well have put the sealer in to start with

Very useful way of de-rusting something. If I remember what the bloke who restored the old bike told me, if you're de-rusting barrels the rust will only go from the side where the electrode is, so you have to have them spaced around a plastic bucket or turn the barrels.

email (option): horror@blueyonder.co.uk

I have not had any experience in de rusting a tank.
But have used electrolysis to clean many other steel items.
I use stainless steel as the electrode as steel eats away quickly, washing soda as the
Electrolyte and a 12 volt battery charger as the power source.
The item will turn black and you can use wool or scotch brite to clean the residue off.
It will remove all the rust including what is in the pits.
If the paint is in good condition it won't remove it but if there is rust under it it will lift
I hope this is of some help

email (option): Darrenacartwright@yahoo.com.au

I want to de-rust something now

email (option): horror@blueyonder.co.uk

I've had good success with muriatic acid and ball bearings.

However, it will flash rust.

How do you set up the Electrolysis?

email (option): britool51@hotmail.com

You need a battery charger, an anode, washing soda. The old style washing crystals found in supermarkets in the cleaning isle. Called lectric soda here in Oz.
Put a tablespoon per liter of water. Place your item in the solution with the negative lead attached to the item, place a anode in attached to the positive.
Make they don't touch or that you get the cables around the wrong way.
I found stainless steel is the best anode as steel is corroded away quickly.
Depending on how bad the rust is, it can take minutes or hours.
Clean the skum off with scotch brite or similar.
On the surface off the water will red skum, it contains hydrogen gas. So not the
best idea to be smoking or in front of the fireplace. Unless you are bored.

Common vinigar or citric acid will also remove rust, avoid molasses as it eats into the steel.

Hope this helps
Cheers Darren

email (option): Darrenacartwright@yahoo.com.au