BTW You do not need that much washing soda in 5 gal bucket. All it does is make the water conductive! A little is all it takes.
True statement but the whole story is.....mark-b's washing soda ratio of 1/2 C per 5 gallons is within the range I've seen in researching electrolysis. The range of 1/3 to 1/2 C per 5 gallons is what I've come across.
You ain't practicing up to run for a political position, are you?
Hey Mongoose!
Look for Mike's restoration thread. Pictures and links are there, or google it.
After about 15 hours some of the rust was still there, so I picked up a manual battery charger. I was getting bubbles, but I think the old one was just trickle charging. I called the manufacturer of the new charger to get specs. on the amps, but they are so worried I am going to kill myself doing this, they refuse to answer the simplest of questions. I will cut back on the soap for my next tub and am looking for some decent electrode.
Mark
mark-b wrote:Good Morning!
My electrode in the.....
CAN I USE GALVANIZED SHEET METAL AS AN ELECTRODE?
You CAN use galvanized sheet metal, as you CAN use stainless steel, but what that will do is turn what would be an environmentally safe solution of water and soda into one that is now considered an environmental concern, primarily due to the hexavalent chromium that will now be present in the solution.
Keep you eyes open on free Craigslist listings for interior sheet metal office stuff like desks, file cabinets or even florescent light fixtures that have hoods. Make sure the sheet steel has not been galvanized or zinc plated.
I called the manufacturer of the new charger to get specs. on the amps, but they are so worried I am going to kill myself doing this, they refuse to answer the simplest of questions......
Mark
My wife has that same concern. She won't even stick around for me to start the charger. She runs into the house. I mess with her by sticking my hand in the solution with it running but she doesn't think it's funny at all. I just can't help messing with her though. Call me ______(fill in the blank).
The tailpiece has cooked for 20 hours. Still not good! Here are the pics. I am doing something wrong?? It was bubbling like a soda pop for the whole 20 hours.
Mark
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Side one after 5 hours
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Side one after 20 hours
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Side 2 after 5 hours
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Side 2 after 20 hours
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The electrode after 20 hours
mark-b wrote:The tailpiece has cooked for 20 hours. Still not good! Here are the pics. I am doing something wrong?? It was bubbling like a soda pop for the whole 20 hours.
Mark
......
It should come out better than that after 20 hours. The red rust (red oxide) should be 100% gone and replaced by black rust (black oxide).
As the anode gets gunked up, as shown in your photo, it is not as effective at completing the circuit so you should keep it relatively clean by scraping it off if progress isn't as you 'expect', such as in this case .
Your tank design doesn't lend itself to cleaning it off easily but be creative by either empty the broth or working underwater to clean it.
I returned the new manual charger as it couldn't buffer a couple volts so that I could get above a trickle charge. I then took JPG's advice to wire a battery into the system. I didn't have a regular car battery, so I clipped in an old jumper that realy didn't hold a good charge. 850 cold cranking amps!!!! Now we're boiling. I also used an old coffee can (sliced open, sanded to take plastic coating off, and flattened) as an electrode. Time will tell.
Mark
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Both "boilers" charger for bucket is out of picture.
