Electrolysis Question

[Bigcypresshunter]

I am using a 12volt battery charger, a plastic bucket of water and baking soda, a wire wrapped around relic and connected to neg clamp, positive clamp connected to piece of stainless steel down in the solution.
The water is getting nasty and turning yellow. The stainess is also collecting yellow crap but the iron relic seems to remain the same. (rusty). What am I doing wrong? I dont remember this happening last time I did this.

 

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[Elvis]

I like to use salt in the water, it seems to work better for me. I also try to clean the rust off as best I can with a wire brush. Make sure the negative has a good connection. I also take out the relic and brush it on occasion during the process. I hope this helps. Good luck.

 

[Timberwolf]

I have never used a car battery charger....I just use a power supply for any low voltage device, that has a DC output.
I also use salt in mine and I use alligator clips on both leads.
I have had my stainless steel spoons (what I use on the positive lead), get pretty yucking looking as the relic is cleaning.

If your relic isn't cleaning well, I would suspect that you are not making a good connection with your negative lead. Try using a alligator clip instead of wrapping the wire around the relic.

Tom

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Thanks I made some changes.

 

[Timberwolf]

Thanks I made some changes.

Let us know how it turns out

TW

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Now I have a good amount of bubbles coming off the relic, (negative) which is good, but I also have bubbles coming off the positive side. I dont remember seeing this before.

 

[Timberwolf]

Bubbles on the positve side is not a problem.
Bubbles on the negative side is good....that means it's cleaning

TW

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Left it on overnight. I stayed with the baking soda solution. The electrolysis worked great on my steel/iron piece that I found in the surf.
Here are some before and after pics.

 

[Timberwolf]

That's great!
Thanks for the pics

TW

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

When I first found it in the Florida surf, I thought it was a shipwreck relic or some type of ferrous ring. It appears to be a broken end of a valve lifter or a very small piston. I can see a groove maybe for the piston ring. What started out as an unidentifiable rusted clump found in saltwater, turned into a preserved identifiable piece. The donut shaped piece is stainless. Electrolysis is great for steel/iron. I wonder what it was doing in the ocean?