Gurt electrolysis tank

[8ob]

Have I missed something?

I can understand making the existing cage 'live' and using busbars sitting on it for the workpieces.

Given the steel strip edging to the container I assumed you would make that oppositely 'live' busbar and simply bend the end of the rebar and hook it over it.
They can then be increased/decreased in number to match power availability, or removed individually for jetwashing without interrupting the process.

Why the need to bolt them to the steel strip? I understand bolting the strip to the IBC.

Then we can discuss adding air sparge and/or circulating pump with or without settling or filtration.

Now, how much more complicated can we make this?

I dont know what I am doing so I am making it up as I go along

I bolted the rebar in place for two reasons, one being if they get knocked or move on the busbar they could short out on the frame/chassis and knock out/fuse the psu, this unit will be moved/be brought out with a forklift when needed so dangling reo would move. The other reason is I dont have a clue as to how many bits of reo a tank like this needs or whether or not I will have to weld flat plate to the ones I have to increase surface area. Cant find any info about the merits of bending the bottom of the reo at 90 degrees and having the anodes run along the bottom of the tank.
Never thought about pumps and filters, there is a 2" drain tap which could be used as a pick up.

Bob

 

[knighty]

it's the more surface area the better... but as long as the piece you're de-rusting is surrounded more surface area just makes it work faster

if it turns out you do need more surface area I'd just weld any old scrap onto the rebar, don't waste decent flat


going to hang stuff inside it?

if it's big/heavy stuff just put a few plastic trays in the bottom upside down (to keep pieces out of the muck) and rest them on there?

no need for a pump/filters etc, just keep stuff out of the muck, then when there's too much empty it out and start again?

EDIT: came to edit to fix a typo and realise I'm probably teaching my granny to suck eggs here :-o

 

[Barlidge]

When I did my smaller tank the anodes did get pretty clogged up with crud so I think @rtcosic makes a valid point about them being removable for cleaning or tweaking the surface area on them.

 

[knighty]

When I did my smaller tank the anodes did get pretty clogged up with crud so I think @rtcosic makes a valid point about them being removable for cleaning or tweaking the surface area on them.

on a big tank like that just get the jet was into it?

 

[Barlidge]

on a big tank like that just get the jet was into it?

Mine was a dustbin size so much smaller but I made an anode frame out of round bar and I recall it being a right pain to clean, when I eventually get around to resurrecting it I will tack some flat plates to the bars to make cleaning easier.

 

[rtcosic]

When I did my smaller tank the anodes did get pretty clogged up with crud so I think @rtcosic makes a valid point about them being removable for cleaning or tweaking the surface area on them.

I use old brake discs as the anode. Drill a hole near the edge and suspend from the rim of the tank. I take them out one by one to jet wash the accumulated crud off them. It helps to keep the current up.

Every once in a while I suspend a collection of scrap in the tank and reverse the current to clean the anodes.

 

[8ob]

I am liking the idea of reversing the polarity to clean off the anodes, as this thing is living outside I intend putting a leccy meter box on the outside of the frame to house the PSU and transformer for the swing lift hoist , I will fit a change over switch on the PS4. These anodes are only held in with a single nut/bolt so it won’t be any grief to whip them out and weld flat to them. Anyone have any thoughts on turning the bars 90 degrees at the bottom to get the anodes under the workpiece?

Bob

 

[123hotchef]

Anyone have any thoughts on turning the bars 90 degrees at the bottom to get the anodes under the workpiece?

GREAT IDEA i REAKON as it is line of sight

 

[knighty]

sounds like a good idea... but keep them off the floor so they're up out of the muck?

you could just weld a load of offcuts together quick an drop it on the floor on top of a few bricks and wire them to one of the bits you have sticking down?

means you can always just drop bits of scrap ontop of them later if you're going to hang stuff in

and you can lift the stuff out if you want to put something heavy in the bottom instead of hanging it?

being able to open the tap and dump the water out should make cleaning pretty easy

 

[rtcosic]

I have often mused about getting an old washing machine drum and making a trommel.

Should be easy enough to make an end plate for the open end with an opening hatch for loading/unloading.

Turns on a long shaft through the centre supported on the cathode bars, so about half of it is in the electrolyte.

Or run the drum on nylon casters inside the container.

Suspend a small motor over the drum with a vee belt around the exterior of the drum.

For nuts, bolts, brackets and other small items. No line of sight issues as the items are constantly moving. no faffing about with individually wiring them. The gentle agitation might dislodge larger lumps of rust.

Worth contemplating?

Edit: it doesn't need a fine mesh or multiple holes. Only enough to ensure the electrolyte can pass in and out. So no risk of losing small parts.

 

[Onoff]

Saw this this morning, would make a lovely citric/electrolysis bath:

GRP maybe?

 

[finyuk2005]

When I did my smaller tank the anodes did get pretty clogged up with crud so I think @rtcosic makes a valid point about them being removable for cleaning or tweaking the surface area on them.

you know you can just hang a sacrificial bit of scrap in the middle and reverse the polarity, that will clean your anodes (or cathodes? cant remember what way round it is!) pretty effectively

 

[Cuthy246]

Saw this this morning, would make a lovely citric/electrolysis bath:

View attachment 350411

GRP maybe?

Looks like a large plasterers bath

https://www.buildingmaterials.co.uk...RzYbm8QapZ0tq9HHANeAvpTkF5tvq4BRoCmnMQAvD_BwE

 

[MattF]

as it is line of sight

It isn't.

 

[123hotchef]

It isn't.

it aint?

 

[MattF]

Nope. The line of sight thing is incorrect.

 

[8ob]

Got a bit more done today, fitted the swinglift support tube/king post and braced it down to the stillage feet. Done it this way so the swing lift can rotate through 360 degrees.

And it can lift out when the hoist side of things are not needed.

Leccy hoist turned up today so thought I would try it. That machine rake is a lump.

 

[MattF]

You posh git.

 

[123hotchef]

Nope. The line of sight thing is incorrect.

well i never i have been led up the garden path by the folk on here

 

[MattF]

well i never i have been led up the garden path by the folk on here

It's not just on here. It's a common myth.

I believe @Maker ? gave a succinct description on the matter several months ago.