More electrolysis

[skotl]

Wow. Finally took the plunge (not literally) and tried this for the first time, on a lathe 3-jaw chuck.

It's witchcraft! Amazed at how well it worked...

Before:

After:

Going to do the 4-jaw next

 

[angellonewolf]

^^^^^it witchcraft

 

[MattF]

You can see why some of us like the process now then. It ain't the fastest method by any shot, but it is the least detrimental method to sound metal.

 

[eLuSiVeMiTe]

Had very good results. Found it a lot faster if you pop the items out and give them a wire brush scotch padding regularly. Good excuse to scrub or grind the annodes as needed too.

Did you strip the chuck first?

 

[mcostello]

People fret about getting the right mix, I just dump some washing soda in near the anode and stir it up, too much and You will max out the power source, too little and nothing happens.

 

[skotl]

Had very good results. Found it a lot faster if you pop the items out and give them a wire brush scotch padding regularly. Good excuse to scrub or grind the annodes as needed too.

Did you strip the chuck first?

Nope - thought about that, but didn't. I hindsight, I should have...

 

[Dieselman 63]

Nope - thought about that, but didn't. I hindsight, I should have...

You probably should have given it's a 3 jaw so it has the helical coil/gear face on the inside, you don't want water getting in there. As always use brass rod/soft faced hammers taking it apart, then re-grease and seal it. If you need any help I can show you how to dismantle both a 3 and 4 jaw chuck

 

[rikrobson]

You shouldhave stripped the chuck
.now you are going to have to to make sure its dry inside and not rusting.
Watch out for flash rusting. A wipe or a quick dunk with phosphoric acid stops this

 

[skotl]

Yikes. OK - will do

The vat is still in the garden so easy enough to whack it back in!

 

[roofman]

now go and strip the chuck to make sure all the water is out of it or the next time its put to use your face will have a grease/water tattoo right down the front

 

[slim_boy_fat]

then re-grease and seal it.

I've always understood that grease was a no-no on a lathe for fear of swarf sticking to it, and that oil was better?

 

[rcx132]

Just being fussy.... the correct terminology is _Electrolytic cleaning_.

 

[skotl]

The chuck is now in pieces and back in the tank, with a big can of WD40 on standby for when I fish it out

 

[slim_boy_fat]

A blast with compressed air is good too.

 

[Dieselman 63]

I've always understood that grease was a no-no on a lathe for fear of swarf sticking to it, and that oil was better?

Quite correct, but you won't get swarf inside an automatic centering chuck, though water could seep inside. And good place for grease is under the compound slide dial, which is also sealed.

 

[Dieselman 63]

A blast with compressed air is good too.

Though sometimes not, as it can force dust into the moving parts.

 

[scottmk1]

Can aluminium tig rod be used to hold parts in the electrolyte?

 

[rcx132]

Can aluminium tig rod be used to hold parts in the electrolyte?

Yes

 

[rcx132]

Can aluminium tig rod be used to hold parts in the electrolyte?

Normally you use copper wire, cheap on ebay. I don't see why tig wire wouldn't work.

 

[slim_boy_fat]

Can aluminium tig rod be used to hold parts in the electrolyte?

Normally you use copper wire, cheap on ebay. I don't see why tig wire wouldn't work.

Or indeed, any conductive wire - I use fencing wire for heavy bits