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Electrolysis tank for cast iron pans, "or anything you want to clean"

Discussion in 'The DIY Room' started by WeldrDave, Aug 23, 2017.

  1. WeldrDave

    WeldrDave Military Outpost Moderator

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    Hi Gang, I had a #10 cast pot I've been sitting on now for some time and it needs serious cleaning.
    So I figured I would give anyone who wanted the run down on making one, I've made this one some years ago and it works outstanding!
    I'll do my best to keep the pics with the explanation but you'll figure it out.
    1st) your gonna need a big type tub as you see in the pics, rigid side, "not a rubber maid soft type"
    2nd) gotta battery charger? A automatic charger "will not work", it has to have a manual setting and hold position. A simple 10 or 20 amp charger works well. Automatics will cycle and shut themselves off. You don't need a big @$$ one like this.
    3rd) any good fairly clean scrap metal, rebar, angle iron, etc... "DON'T" use galvanized. you won't like what happens... It really doesn't need huge pieces but big enough to go to bottom of tub, seems to work better.
    4th) some good heavy wire and clamps.
    5th) Washing soda! Don't matter what brand, most hardware and grocery stores have it.
    6th) Time... don't hurry, it'll work! If you stand there and wait for it to work, you will eventually have to go to bed! :whistle:

    Start by putting your scrap metal on each side of your tub and clamp a heavy wire to both.
    Add a hefty cup of washing soda to your tub, insert your piece you want clean.
    I happen to hang my pieces from a hunk of stainless flat bar I have, but you can use a piece of wood or basically anything as long as you can clamp you charger wire to the piece and get a circuit.
    Fill the tub with water and stir up the washing soda while it's filling and fill till your piece is covered.
    Next, connect your "Negative" to the piece you want clean.
    and "Positive" to your scrap metal, turn it on and go enjoy a beverage.
    It usually takes 24 to 48 hours, "sometimes longer" depending on how bad your pan or whatever is. This pot I'm doing will take two maybe three days.

    "PLEASE NOTE", Safety!!!! Don't let Kids, Dogs, or anything around it while on!!!
    You are dealing with electricity, even though it's only 12 volts, it could "KILL" in the right conditions!!! ....... :eek:

    Understand, you can get very elaborate with this project, if you Youtube this method there are some really nice set ups! Junk stuff works just as well though, I use what I have.
    I clean many pans with a little 10 amp charger so simple works just fine, just takes a bit longer.
    Lastly, this is not only for pans, it'll do anything rusty and corroded. I soley use it for my rusted stuff I find or a "Really" gunked up pan with a 100 years of grease on it!
    DSCN2601.JPG DSCN2598.JPG DSCN2604.JPG DSCN2602.JPG DSCN2605.JPG DSCN2603.JPG DSCN2608.JPG DSCN2616.JPG
    Enjoy the pics, Dave
     
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  2. WeldrDave

    WeldrDave Military Outpost Moderator

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    If you have any questions about it just yell, It start bubbling in about an hour or two after you turn on the charger, You'll start seeing the results. :)
     
  3. WeldrDave

    WeldrDave Military Outpost Moderator

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    It's been three hours since I put the pot in, you can see how nasty the water is getting. I found my smaller charger so I swapped it out from the big one. the big one was a bit over kill and you can only get so much current anyway, The smaller charger is perfect. DSCN2619.JPG DSCN2618.JPG DSCN2620.JPG
     
  4. SKEETER McCLUSKEY

    SKEETER McCLUSKEY

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    will the "electrodes" come out clean too?...would it be better to use new scrap?
     
  5. WeldrDave

    WeldrDave Military Outpost Moderator

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    No, the crap on the pan goes to the electrodes. I just wire brush them off and reuse. Those pieces you see were fairly new a couple years ago, just knock off the junk. Once you establish the current in the water it's gonna cling right to the scrap pieces. Use what ever you got, I know another fella here in NJ who does boat parts and manifolds, he uses 1" rebar on four sides of his tank, he's been doing it for years with super results.
     
  6. wildwest

    wildwest Moderator

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    :eek:
     
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  7. Eric VW

    Eric VW Moderator

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    HEY DAVE, I GOT A QUESTION...
    WILL IT CLEAN MY FEED THONG?:bug:

    JK....:picard:

    That really is a sweet setup :yes:
    How different is this from electroplating?
     
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  8. WeldrDave

    WeldrDave Military Outpost Moderator

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    Ahhhhhhh......... Don't know....:whistle::zip::picard:
     
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  9. WeldrDave

    WeldrDave Military Outpost Moderator

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    Different direction of current. Were pulling from the cast pot so the rust, grime and other junk comes off. Electroplating also has a few different procedures and chemicals involved, Were just cleaning here.
     
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  10. Eric VW

    Eric VW Moderator

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    Got it:handshake:
    So you still haven't cleaned the one I sent ya?:zip: :whistle::wacky::rofl: :lol:

    :picard::picard::picard::picard::picard::picard:
    Ok, no more from me on the subject.....:handshake::salute:
     
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  11. WeldrDave

    WeldrDave Military Outpost Moderator

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    Not telling....... I like it dirty! :whistle: Oh Boy, this is getting deep o_O
     
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  12. Eric VW

    Eric VW Moderator

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    Next......!:rofl: :lol:
     
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  13. WeldrDave

    WeldrDave Military Outpost Moderator

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    I gotta go, Dinner....
     
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  14. Eric VW

    Eric VW Moderator

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    All this talk of cleaning cast iron and FT's worked up the ol' appetite....? :flipeggs:
    :grizz:
    :salute:
     
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  15. fishingpol

    fishingpol

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    Great post Dave. Bookmarked it. I use to use a small transformer for coins we found metal detecting that were pretty encrusted.
     
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  16. WeldrDave

    WeldrDave Military Outpost Moderator

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    Before pic, and 24 hours later!:cool: I put it back in for about 8 more hours to finalize. DSCN2607.JPG DSCN2622.JPG DSCN2623.JPG
     
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  17. fishingpol

    fishingpol

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    The before pic would have found that pan in the scrap pile around here.

    Looking good.
     
  18. Boomstick

    Boomstick Banned

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  19. WeldrDave

    WeldrDave Military Outpost Moderator

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    Yes, and thats the norm when some people see things like that. I've found stuff in trash that came back beautiful. :)
     
  20. don2222

    don2222

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    Hello
    Would Black Diamond Media Blasting work well too?
     
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