Electrolysis Rust Removal

[chadbullet]

Anyone here have experience with electrolysis?

I've been working on removing rust on this Zuma gas tank. The process is working great, but I've been having trouble with dropping amperage from the DC power supply. When I start with a clean anode, I'll see 6-10A. By an hour in of running, I'll be at 1A. I'll pull the anode, sand off the rust it's collected, and amperage will be back up. 

It makes sense, that as the anode collects rust, the resistance is increased and thus the power supply can only output so many amps, but it seems like all of the videos I've seen, people will just set up and let it run for hours. 

Is my power supply just unable to keep up? Either way, it seems to be working great. It's just been a lot more involved process than expected.

[rollingbender]

The magic of video editing.

I think you are getting the expected results and you are doing it correctly.

Difficult to get a large anode in there to collect more iron oxide.

[chadbullet]

Oct 6, 2023 14:41:52 GMT -5 rollingbender said:

The magic of video editing.

I think you are getting the expected results and you are doing it correctly.

Difficult to get a large anode in there to collect more iron oxide.

Maybe? 

I've used this video as a reference, and I just haven't anywhere near as much crud as he has collected.



I've been playing around with a couple of my scraps this morning. I've added WAY more than the 1 tbsp baking soda / gal of water that I've seen recommended, and it's really gotten the amperage up. I know a lot of people using washing soda, but I had this around, and everything I came across online suggested that it didn't make too much of a difference. 



I'll likely get back to the tank this afternoon and will be using way more baking soda than I've been using.