Electrolysis....gotta love it

[Turbo21]

Have a real small homemade electrolysis setup using an old phone charger

I decided to give it a try on this old copper tree tag I found. Wow what a difference

 

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[mr helton]

I really need to get around to making one of these...

 

[Turbo21]

I really need to get around to making one of these...

It takes all of 5 minutes


Here is another piece I cleaned up with electrolysis

 

[BVI Hunter]

can you post pics / details of you set-up?

would love to make one!!

 

[Lores]

I have one too but don't get results like that.

 

[Turbo21]

I have one too but don't get results like that.

How long are you leaving it in for?

Both of the pieces above were in for almost 10
Hrs

 

[Turbo21]

I can try to take pics tonight

But here are the basics


5 gal bucket. Half full of water

3 teaspoons of salt


Any type of Dc phone charger. My charger is 12 volts. 1200ma. Cut the end from the charger. Split wires and attatched alligator clips (radio shack for $3)


You need 2 pieces of metal for the process to work. One is the sacrificial metal that will be destroyed. I have been using old stainless steel silverware


Attatch 1 lead to relic to be cleaned and put into the water. Attatch other lead to sacrificial metal. I have only the metal of the sacrificial object in the water and keep the alligator clip above the water.

What you want to see is tons of tiling bubbles forming all over the relic. If they are forming on the sacrificial object your wires are backwards and you need to switch them around


The 2 objects pictures above were kept in for around 10 hrs. Every setup is going to be different because of the amount of salt used and the electrical rating of the phone charger. So try it on a worthless object first to get a feel on how your setup works

I also used my setup along with some polish to clean up this king George v. Penny I found. I did a few 1 hr electro treatments and hit it with polish in between

 

[Lores]

How long are you leaving it in for?

Both of the pieces above were in for almost 10
Hrs

That explains it. The directions said 1-2 hours.

 

[Turbo21]

That explains it. The directions said 1-2 hours.

I would run coins for 1-2 hrs and then see where they are at. But heavily corroded items run overnight

 

[Davers]

Great results ..

I have a larger Set up like yours [ 5 gal, Bucket] & use a Car Battery Charger tho I only use it on Iron Pieces .

Been meaning to make a smaller on 1 or 2 gal, Sheet rock mud bucket W/some type of DC Charger but I was never sure how many Volts Were Needed , I see 12 volts works for you so ill likely try that / I have several sizes put back JIC.
Good Post
Davers

 

[Tnmountains]

Great results ..

I have a larger Set up like yours [ 5 gal, Bucket] & use a Car Battery Charger tho I only use it on Iron Pieces .

Been meaning to make a smaller on 1 or 2 gal, Sheet rock mud bucket W/some type of DC Charger but I was never sure how many Volts Were Needed , I see 12 volts works for you so ill likely try that / I have several sizes put back JIC.
Good Post
Davers

Agree good results! I also use a car charger and a large tupperware container . I like to use old stainless steel as my ground. Copper gets foamy and messy. Like the thoughts of a mini set up.
Thanks!

 

[Turbo21]

Another cleanup job. Came out perfect

Before and after

 

[Turbo21]

Forgot pics


And sorry got a shot of my reef tank attatched and can't delete it lol

 

[Joe Davis]

Wow, gotta try this. Was thinking about buying one of the $50 jewelry "cleaners" but this looks better. Thanks for sharing

 

[G.I.B.]

Here is my first attempt.

I'm using a small lightweight battery charger, 1/2 amp kinda thing. The ends are small 1 serving soup/veggie can lids.

The metal rod (black lead) is from a big black binder clip. (should give you an idea on size)

This worked amazingly well on a silver ring I found in the surf.

I'm going to have to try it on some of my other stuff now after seeing how well it worked in the first couple of pics.

 

[relicmeister]

Good directions. Mine is similar I use a folgers coffee can and I converted a couple different appliance chargers 300mA 1Amp. .3Amp is enough for most small items.
You can use baking soda as catalyst also

 

[Turbo21]

Good directions. Mine is similar I use a folgers coffee can and I converted a couple different appliance chargers 300mA 1Amp. .3Amp is enough for most small items.
You can use baking soda as catalyst also

Just wanted to clarify that you used a plastic coffee can. We all know it is plastic but someone trying to setup a new electro kit might not know that using a metal container could have disasterous results

 

[Professor of Engineering]

Very nice old copper coin, and beautiful salt water tank!

 

[NHBandit]

My setup uses an old 12V train transformer for the power source and I use cheap Stainless Steel spoons for the sacrificial metal that I pick up at yard sales for 10 cents or so each.

 

[Joe Davis]

I did a few 1 hr electro treatments and hit it with polish in between

What are you using to polish them? And is there any correlation to size of relic to amount of water. Seems like some people are using a big container for a small relic such as coins. Thanks