I have, in the past, used naoh as the electrolyte also, which I'm sure works better than the washing soda I'm currently using, but it is more melty (flesh, eyeballs, pets etc)
At the concentration used for electrolysis, it's relatively safe. You'd need really sensitive skin for it to be a problem.
Well... i guess the defeats the advantage to using it.
I want it to strip off any oil, oil based paint, etc. at the same time.
Citric leaves a protective oxide and I find it is best wiped dry rather than rinsed or washed off. Ive got parts left outside over a year since, with no significant rust.Electrolysis leaves a black oxide finish that mostly is removed by pressure washing. Before painting I like to give it a rub with a coarse scotch pad to remove any remaining oxide.
Citric leaves a similar finish plus it goes sticky if you don't wash off the citric before it dries!
Sorry, but I find it hard to believe that citric (generally) leaves a protective oxide. The whole point of citric is that it creates reaction products which are soluble, the very last thing you want for a protective film. Phosphate makes insoluble, protective films.Citric leaves a protective oxide and I find it is best wiped dry rather than rinsed or washed off. Ive got parts left outside over a year since, with no significant rust.