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I collect and restore vintage tools, I've used electrolysis for a few years, and its worked amazingly. Use plastic tubs or buckets, I use rebar for the sacrificial anodes, those I connect with old electrical wires to connect them. Connect my battery charger to the piece bring dipped, other lead to one of the anodes. Center the piece equally between the anodes and fire it up. A by product is small amounts of hydrogen gas, so do it outside or well ventilated areas. Good luck
One of our other members related the clever idea of using a steel can as the anode. Since you need surface area more than mass a steel can works great. Get a can of soup, etc. have a hot meal, remove the label, then work on your old Ford!
I did it on a old tractor fuel tank. Supported the sacrificial anode in the tank with a plastic paint cap and filled it to the rim with the water and washing soda. Hooked the other lead to some bare metal on the tank. As bad as the tank was it took a few days to get it to my liking but I haven't had a plugged fuel filter since.
Fighter, What did you set your battery charger to? I just pulled my tank out of the 47 and need to do this. I emptied as much of the old gas and sludge out of it as I could. I may even pour a gallon or two of new gas in there and flush out some more sludge.
Fighter, What did you set your battery charger to? I just pulled my tank out of the 47 and need to do this. I emptied as much of the old gas and sludge out of it as I could. I may even pour a gallon or two of new gas in there and flush out some more sludge.
I have never found gas to be a good solvent for old gummy gas residue. I use laquer thinner or acetone, maybe xylol. I bet a gallon of carb cleaner would do wonders. What ever you use, make sure it is well rinsed before adding electricity...
I used toulene om the 56 caddy tank without removing it. Dump in in, pump it out at the fuel pump. The last time left it about a month.
On the dipping, always wanted to try it. I even thought you might use a metal horse tank for bigger items and use the whole tank for the anode.
You could use the metal tank as the anode, although eventually it's gonna get eaten away and remember the parts being dipped should not touch the anode. Even a large plastic trash can will work
Hmmmm I have 4) 17" lock ring wheels that could use this. I don't have a sandblaster and I'm tired of pulling quills from my sweatshirt after wearing out yet another cup brush. The plastic trash can would be ideal....Gonna check this out soon. Thanks.
A kid's wading pool works well for wheels. A strip of sheet metal wrapped in a circle works outside the wheel and another strip coiled inside the wheel works well there. Large plastic storage bins work as well. Plastic food grade barrels work well. Heavy sheet plastic, 6 or 8 mil works good as a liner in large tanks.
