Since I don’t want to run across the ListMom by forwarding too much I’m staring
a new thread:

I’m on a budget so i like to buy ‘em ugly.  So I’ve tuned in an electrolysis and
very mild acid treatment that is giving me satisfactory results (hardness,
cleanness, patina, rust resistance) on heavily rusted items.

I have one nagging concern I have is disposing the by product of the
electrolysis.

I’m careful to use only real steel as anodes, never stainless. I only use
electrolysis on things that are clearly 100% steel, nothing that doesn’t clearly
hold a magnet. Anything I use it on is scrubbed during degreasing to make sure
there’s no trace of brass, copper, etc. So while it’s possible there’s something
sneaking in other than steel, baking soda, and water . . .  . I’m not concerned
about that potentially carcinogenic reaction I’ve read about. I only do it at
the door, with a box fan right over the vat to blow any vapors out of the shop,
so I’m not worried about gases like hydrogen building up.

But the nasty black - red - foamy stew that’s left over after I do 3-4 items . .
. . I’ve been pouring it out in a remote area of my multiple acre property,
generally on a day when it’s raining, or I have reasonable assurance that it
will rain within 24 hours.

I believe what I’m doing is pouring out water, baking soda, and relatively minor
amounts of iron oxide, none of which is harmful. I’ve tried to find confirmation
online . . . . Leaving aside highly technical EPA or state regulation things
that someone might throw out . . . . . . . can any of the more knowledgeable
galoots give me some comfort or warning here? The amounts don’t concern me for
ground water, etc., and no animal is stupid enough to drink this slurry . . .
mostly I want to make sure I’m not poisoning trees in the immediate area.

I have used stainless pot lids for my anodes for 15 years with no problems.  I
have changed the liquid in the 5 gallon bucket perhaps every 3-4 years, after
adding a bit of water and more washing soda in the interim - I wait til there is
a layer of crud on the bottom.  I have poured on the lawn with no visible
effects.  The biggest problem I seem to have is keeping the alligator clip that
is submerged intact - the wire wants to corrode at the clip and I need to
refasten it periodically.

Ed Minch


On Jul 2, 2015, at 12:29 PM, Mark Pfeifer  wrote:

> I believe what I’m doing is pouring out water, baking soda, and relatively
minor amounts of iron oxide, none of which is harmful. I’ve tried to find
confirmation online . . . . Leaving aside highly technical EPA or state
regulation things that someone might throw out . . . . . . . can any of the more
knowledgeable galoots give me some comfort or warning here? The amounts don’t
concern me for ground water, etc., and no animal is stupid enough to drink this
slurry . . . mostly I want to make sure I’m not poisoning trees in the immediate
area.

On 7/2/2015 1:09 PM, Ed Minch wrote:
> I have used stainless pot lids for my anodes for 15 years with no problems.  I
have changed the liquid in the 5 gallon bucket perhaps every 3-4 years,


I'm speechless.
Literally - - I can't even type.
  3 - 4 years?
What do you do about mold?
Doesn't the fluid develop a bio-film scum?

I never had any ill effects dumping electrolysis guck myself. And I've 
dumped a lot.
Never had any trouble with a stainless annode either.
  20 some odd years, and I am no more than "mostly dead". heh
   I use low amperage for heavens sake. Its not like I am cleaning 
pirate ship cannons in a swimming pool with arc welder power.  It dinky 
power, my setup.
    I have a tank I built just long enough for saws when needed. A 
wooden box lined with heavy "pond liner" plastic.

  I've also used several different kinds of acids and a gudzillion kinds 
of wire brushes and abrasives too.  Even blasted a bit. Tried most 
things at one time or other.

   But lately though, I tend to use scrapers a lot.
  Scrapers and razor blades. It takes some practice to cut what you 
want, and leave what you want to keep. But its just work, you'll get it 
if you try.

  Scrapers ain't just for wood you know.  I have personally scraped onyx 
and other stones that were soft enough to scrape.
   I have scraped a lot of cast iron. Steel, whatever.
     Same old scraper you use on curly maple cuts iron too, ya know.
  Not sure about the "hours long fussy edges" people put on their scrapers.
   But drawfile and go?
     Works fine for me
      yours Scott


-- 
*******************************
    Scott Grandstaff
    Box 409 Happy Camp, Ca  96039
    scottg@s...
    http://www.snowcrest.n
et/kitty/sgrandstaff/
    http://www.snowcr
est.net/kitty/hpages/index.html

No mold, if there is a scum, it doesn’t hinder.

Ed Minch




On Jul 2, 2015, at 10:20 PM, Cliff Rohrabacher, Esq  wrote:

> I'm speechless.
> Literally - - I can't even type.
> 3 - 4 years?
> What do you do about mold?
> Doesn't the fluid develop a bio-film scum?