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Thread: My first electolysis

  1. #1

    My first electolysis

    This is something I wanted to tinker with not long after getting into detecting, and today was the day. For anyone else wanting to try it, it's pretty easy and cheap.

    Since all I'm cleaning is small bits for now, I went to the hardware store and picked up 1 quart and 2.5 quart clear paint mixing containers, a couple alligator clips, handful of bare nails as anodes, gallon of distilled water, and already had picked up a box of Arm & Hammer washing soda (it's the electrolyte for the solution, sodium carbonate) last week.
    A 12v power supply from my spare Linksys router is what I'm using for juice. It's rated for 1 amp. 12 volts is fine for cleaning iron farm crunk, but lower voltages are recommended for washing your delicates.

    Clipped the plug off the power supply, and soldered on alligator clips, observing polarity.
    I added a couple cups of water to the container, and dissolved maybe 2/3 to 3/4 tsp of the washing soda in it. Attached the positive clip to the top of my nail/anode, and taped the wire to the cup, making sure the clip stays above the solution or else it'll get eaten.
    Negative clip goes to the piece being cleaned. I'm using a nice straight square nail I dug this summer. I suspended that on the other side of the cup with some tape as well. You have to sink the alligator clip, but that's fine as it's won't erode. Make sure your anode and piece to be cleaned never touch! Short circuit!

    Plugged in the transformer, and was seeing bubbles on the anode and negative clip, but not my nail. The crust on the nail was too much resistance. Unplugged, pulled the nail, and carefully filed a bare spot along a flat side of the nail. Also filed down the teeth a bit on the alligator clips for more contact area.
    Sunk everything again, plugged in, and voila, bubbles seeping out along the nail. Cool! After a while, rust colored foam started forming around the nail.

    Let it go for half an hour, and unplugged for a peek. Could see results already. The nail I'm using for an anode had built up black oxidation(?), so I unclipped it, rinsed off the black stuff, and gave it a quick clean with my file. Back in the solution, plug in, and it was bubbling real good again. That oxidation seems to knock down the current after a while. Carbon anodes are much better than iron ones as they don't react like iron does, so I may have to get one from fleabay or Amazon maybe.

    And warning! You're creating hydrogen during this process! A little rig like this isn't an issue indoors, a small fan blowing across the area is more than sufficient. Just don't play with sparklers around it. Something to do while the snow flies. And when you're done, the solution looks like hot chocolate. Add a peppermint candy cane and top with marshmallow. Tasty! Thanks for reading, and I'll get a pic of the nail up when it's done.

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    Slow digging is better than no digging.
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  2. #2
    I'm gonna try electrolysis soon. I need to hit either advance auto or harbor freight. Both of them have a 10/2/50 charger for around $50. I intend to clean larger pieces for comment about amperage. I can always use my old ICs from school to make a current limiter if needed. Something to do during the winter. I thought the paint can was gonna be used as your anode. A 3 Lb empty joint compound bucket works nice too.
    Last edited by MangoAve; 10-20-2014 at 07:04 AM.

  3. #3
    I don't have anything big to fiddle with Jim, so even a container you get wonton soup delivered in would have worked for a lousy nail. Or even those cheap storage containers at the grocery store. The laws of electricity apply in water as well, so not sure you want a huge container.

    Learning real quick that iron anodes are a PITA. I get maybe half an hour and can see the crud build up on it, which drags down the process. And it makes the biggest mess of the electrolyte. Fine graphite rods or plates are the way to go.
    Otherwise, the results are good so far. A majority of crud got taken off the nail in a few hours. I'll strain the junk through a coffee filter and finish the job this week.
    Slow digging is better than no digging.
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  4. #4
    Elite Member Digger Don's Avatar
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    I'm looking forward to seeing the results.
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  5. #5
    Veteran Member Skamaniac's Avatar
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    I use electrolysis a lot. I think you'll be impressed.
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  6. #6
    Full Member Robbie's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Skamaniac View Post
    I use electrolysis a lot. I think you'll be impressed.
    Me too, I used to use a s.s spoon as my anode but I ruined to many. Now I`m using a carbon rod[which I found detecting]with about a teaspoon of salt to a half a pint of water in a plastic bowl.

  7. #7
    Lol. Were you thinking I was telling you that you were doing it wrong? I actually read your process before seeing pics so I thought paint containers were the metal cans. You don't need to tell me how electricity works. I just say the smaller joint compound buckets tend to be readily available. I've got like three left over from home repairs. The more solution just means you change or filter/clean it less often. Same with bigger anode. You have to clean it less often. This is effectively electroplating. I did find some carbon rods on amazon. Umm... but those also come in 12". Quite bigger than your nail. Or was there a stab that you only find small nails and I find big iron? Well, Ill tell you something, Sir, I happened to find 100+ of those buggers in the same hole.

  8. #8
    Thank you Robbie.

    Got plenty of junk stainless silverware over the years, so put a couple bends in a spoon handle to hang over the rim of the cup, and have a clip tab. The solution I had strained through a coffee filter, and I finished my nail tonight.
    The stainless spoon is great, doesn't rust or build up, or pollute the solution. That lets the current flow. I only had to cook for an hour to finish getting the nail clean. Stopped at 30 mins to rub the loosened crud off. Once done I scrubbed it with a brass brush, dried and heated it, and gave it a quick rub of petroleum jelly so it doesn't flash rust.

    Neat stuff. I'm going to definitely cook the rest of my iron finds over the winter. May have to barter a friend for a variable power supply so I'm not using a cheap transformer, and not overcooking.
    Here's the final results. 1'st pic, already seen. 2'nd pic, after the first round using a nail for an anode (sucks). 3'rd pic, finished nail porn.

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    Slow digging is better than no digging.
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  9. #9
    Senior Member Nesdore's Avatar
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    Turned out great Bri now you got me wanting to try it lol maybe something to do this winter great job
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  10. #10
    Full Member Robbie's Avatar
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    Yes much better Glad I could help

  11. #11
    Full Member Beartoe's Avatar
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    OK great. I knew it would work Brian. BUT has anyone tried it on old coppers?

    I watched an electrolysis video using an old phone charger to clean a wheatie. Worked pretty good for a coin worth 1 cent.

    I want to clean up some old coppers and am afraid I may degrade the value.

    has anyone tried electrolysis ith old coppers?
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  12. #12
    Full Member mownomo's Avatar
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    Good thread! The nail really cleaned up good. BTW, if you check out garage sales, you will find a lot of multi-voltage dc power supplies for almost nothing. (used for cell phones, pda's and etc) That way you can select the lower voltages for the more sensitve items. It just takes longer.
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  13. #13
    Elite Member giant056's Avatar
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    Very cool

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