Bad Electolysis....Bad.....

[ivan salis]

thats just my point---bleach bad !!!!!---for coins and people too!!! ----baking soda is much more safe. I could not agree with you more.

 

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[Hill City Rebel]

thats just my point---bleach bad !!!!!---for coins and people too!!! ----baking soda is much more safe. I could not agree with you more.

Perhaps you're right. Baking soda is bicarbonate of soda, NaHCO3 - so there's the advantage of no chlorine present to form that corrosive enemy, salt (NaCl). Baking soda breaks down in water to form the Na+ cation and the anion HCO3-, which will support the ion exchange mechanism vital to the cleaning process. Electrolytic action will probably produce carbon dioxide (CO2, water (H2O), hydrogen (H2), oxygen (O2), and perhaps some other sodium/hydrogen/oxygen compounds like sodium hydroxide (NaOH), none of which, as far as I know, are overly corrosive to our metals. Based on these tentative observations, baking soda appears to be the better electrolyte.

Hill City Rebel
http://treasurehunter.booklocker.com/

 

[Functional]

I have two observations to make.

1) TokenFinder hasn't participated in this thread beyond having started it, so we'll never know what the problem was. Maybe they used a power supply with AC input and output?

2) On the topic of using baking soda as an electrolyte. I think you will find this web page titled; "How to Build a Reverse Electrolysis Tank - ( Used to clean Treasures and Artifacts)", of interest:
http://www.treasureexpeditions.com/Reverse Electrolysis.htm

F.

 

[Hill City Rebel]

I have two observations to make.

1) TokenFinder hasn't participated in this thread beyond having started it, so we'll never know what the problem was. Maybe they used a power supply with AC input and output?

2) On the topic of using baking soda as an electrolyte. I think you will find this web page titled; "How to Build a Reverse Electrolysis Tank - ( Used to clean Treasures and Artifacts)", of interest:
http://www.treasureexpeditions.com/Reverse Electrolysis.htm

F.

Thanks for the input (item 2). I read the referenced article. Don't know where the term "reverse electrolysis" came from - the process we use is exactly the same as that used for electroplating. If we were to use a silver nitrate solution and a silver anode, we could coat our old coins with a fresh layer of silver. Hmm... Anybody willing to try it?

 

[ivan salis]

the neg lead goes on the to be cleaned item ---the pos lead to the other item ---electric goes from neg to pos thus kicking off the attached rust in the process---the liquid water has impurities in it t0 assist in the electic travel ---the pos item is the thing being plated ot atttached to hince "gold plated"-- earring------ steel core with thin gold covering ----a neg current will not "draw" it repels---pos draws items. ----electricail "flow" is from neg to pos--P.S. you need DC output not AC out put (DC is ---direct current)-----very important the differance in cleaning stuff----Ivan

 

[Hill City Rebel]

the neg lead goes on the to be cleaned item ---the pos lead to the other item ---electric goes from neg to pos thus kicking off the attached rust in the process---the liquid water has impurities in it t0 assist in the electic travel ---the pos item is the thing being plated ot atttached to hince "gold plated"-- earring------ steel core with thin gold covering ----a neg current will not "draw" it repels---pos draws items. ----electricail "flow" is from neg to pos--P.S. you need DC output not AC out put (DC is ---direct current)-----very important the differance in cleaning stuff----Ivan

Ivan, I believe the item to be plated is attached to the negative lead, the cathode. The cathode in our case is the item to be cleaned. Thanks, HCR

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

2) On the topic of using baking soda as an electrolyte. I think you will find this web page titled; "How to Build a Reverse Electrolysis Tank - ( Used to clean Treasures and Artifacts)", of interest:
http://www.treasureexpeditions.com/Reverse Electrolysis.htm

F.

Here is a list from the link:
An anode - anything made of stainless steel, a plate, a rod or even a large bolt.
An electrolyte solution - sodium hydroxide (lye) or sodium carbonate (baking soda).
A container - anything from a small ten gallon aquarium (if the items are not too large and you want to view the cleaning process) up to a large plastic tank of several feet in length depth and width ( if you are treating cannons or anchors).
Clip on leads - these can be purchased from any electronic supply store such as Radio Shack.
A DC power source - a battery charger is an excellent DC power source.
I have heard of using either sodium hydroxide or sodium bicarbonate. Truthfully, I have never heard of using bleach. :P

 

[Hill City Rebel]

2) On the topic of using baking soda as an electrolyte. I think you will find this web page titled; "How to Build a Reverse Electrolysis Tank - ( Used to clean Treasures and Artifacts)", of interest:
http://www.treasureexpeditions.com/Reverse Electrolysis.htm

F.

Here is a list from the link:
An anode - anything made of stainless steel, a plate, a rod or even a large bolt.
An electrolyte solution - sodium hydroxide (lye) or sodium carbonate (baking soda).
A container - anything from a small ten gallon aquarium (if the items are not too large and you want to view the cleaning process) up to a large plastic tank of several feet in length depth and width ( if you are treating cannons or anchors).
Clip on leads - these can be purchased from any electronic supply store such as Radio Shack.
A DC power source - a battery charger is an excellent DC power source.
I have heard of using either sodium hydroxide or sodium bicarbonate. Truthfully, I have never heard of using bleach. :P

You can use any compound that will ionize (dissolve) in water. You just need to be careful that you don't introduce metals (that can be deposited on your coin/relic) or acids/salts that can harm your relic or eat your anode. I've used bleach for years cleaning Civil War artillery shells, but it's not good for non-ferrous, small items, and it will eat the anode to bits. Cast iron is my choice of anode material for artillery shells, and a stainless spoon for small coins. I agree that lye and baking soda are the best electrolytes. HCR

 

[MUD(S.W.A.T)]

Forget Bleach, Baking soda, and salt. Try Lemon Juice.

Keep @ it and HH!!