Electrolysis ingredients

[balmerchris]

I'm making up my first electrolysis tank. Does it need to be washing soda or can I use soda crystals? Having trouble getting washing soda!
Also while I'm here is 12 volts ok or should I switch to 6 volts?
I'm using a 50 gallon drum on its side with a hole cut in it.

 

[Richiew]

I think it's the same stuff. It is just how it is marketed. It will be quicker using 12 volts. I used 12 volts in a bucket so if you are using a big drum there is no need to reduce the voltage.

 

[tinman123]

sodium carbonate is the same thing.
or thats what i have sitting here in a drum anyways after some research, i got it off e bay.
truth be told its sitting here in the office for the last 6 mths so ive not actually used it yet.

 

[MattF]

As Tinman' says, as long as there's sodium carbonate listed in the ingredients, you're fine, whatever label they've put on there. Bicarb and caustic are also usable, but caustic obviously needs some caution, especially when mixing. As Richie says, 12V will generally be fine. Just drop it down to 6V if it's drawing silly amounts of current.

 

[Maker]

Any water soluble salt will work as you just need some ions in solution to make it conductive. The only thing to worry about is some salts (Eg; table salt,NaCl) will produce chlorine gas at the anode.

 

[balmerchris]

I thought sodium bicarbonate was a no no. Happy days, if it works I've got plenty of it.

 

[Screwdriver]

I use Daz.

 

[AndersK]

Cant you get it in any paint store?

 

[Ton-up]

Silly question on this as I want to try this soon too, but I have not seen anyone recommend the best concentration ratio of soda to water or do you just go by the instructions?

 

[balmerchris]

I went to tesco this afternoon and they had none and the highly qualified sales assistant said they don't stock it!
Called with my mum and she had a box of it.
So it's cooking away now.

 

[Seadog]

Silly question on this as I want to try this soon too, but I have not seen anyone recommend the best concentration ratio of soda to water or do you just go by the instructions?

I don't think there is a best concentration. As already said, the salt only provides a source of ions to allow electrical conductivity. A couple of desert spoons in a few gallons should be more than enough. Too much won't do any harm though.

 

[colnerov]

Silly question on this as I want to try this soon too, but I have not seen anyone recommend the best concentration ratio of soda to water or do you just go by the instructions?

1kg of soda crystals to 10 litres of water.

 

[balmerchris]

Could someone just confirm for me that the negative lead goes to the part to be cleaned?

 

[balmerchris]

1kg of soda crystals to 10 litres of water.

I used less than 1kg for over 100 litres!

 

[colnerov]

Hi Obtained from here. -

http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/andyspatch/rust.htm

Colin

 

[balmerchris]

Hi Obtained from here. -

http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/andyspatch/rust.htm

Colin

That's a great link, lots of info there.
Maybe I should mix somemore into the tank.

 

[Screwdriver]

1kg of soda crystals to 10 litres of water.

Good grief! What are you trying to do, pickle it?

I bung a cup of Daz (15-20% of which is sodium carbonate) into my tank which is probably a good 3-400 litres.

So long as it conducts, there's enough and I get 3-4 amps with a 12v source which is really too much current for a delicate piece but I am doing big old lumps of iron at the moment.

One thing I do have is a huge area of sacrificial anode, lots of large sheets and wiggly bits of rod. it's the anode that does the work so that's the part of the process you want to get right. No such thing as too much anode...

The easy way to remember is "sacrificial anode" or "Anode A+". The positive side gets eaten away as the iron atoms transfer to the workpiece. You won't want to get it wrong twice!

S.

 

[Maker]

Anode A+

A physics teacher told us if we forget which is which, PANIC.
Positive Anode, Negative Is Cathode

 

[balmerchris]

I have a blue wire and a brown wire on my charger is the brown live like in household wiring?

 

[T0rnado69]

I have a blue wire and a brown wire on my charger is the brown live like in household wiring?

i would think the brown is live and blue neutral.


there is a big thread about this topic here