For Ians method, Time, and the lack of a surface etch on bare steel causing surface rust, requiring more work to prep before paint
I don't do any more to it as long as I paint it with a etch primer as soon as it is dry and so far things that I have done many years ago have no rust coming through
COST
Washing soda I bought over 20 years ago for about $2 per Kg used 14kg = $28 Have added only 1kg since though it might need it but made no difference so there is no on going cost with chemical
The BIG plastic tank I got from the dump for $20
The battery changer from a grange sale $10
Power used all but nothing you are only using 12volts
BUT I think what is missing is what it can do
If you have a number of parts all rusted together put it in the Electrolysis bath with a wire to each part and you find it far easier to get it apart as the Electrolysis works on the inside or what you might say between parts that are rusted together
I used to do a number of old stationary engines (why the tank is so big)valves are stuck push rods stuck etc and instead of using all kinds of stuff you can soaked it in put it in the Electrolysis bath for 1 day and every thing comes apart
Here is something else people might be interested in
Of special interest to anyone who's Nuts about Bolts:
Penetrating Oils
Machinist's Workshop Mag recently published some information on various penetrating oils that I found very interesting. Some of you
might appreciate this.
The magazine reports they tested penetrates for break out torque on rusted nuts.
They are below, as forwarded by an ex-student and professional machinist.
They arranged a subjective test of all the popular penetrates with the
control being the torque required to remove the nut from a "scientifically rusted" environment.
*Penetrating oils .......... Average torque load to loosen
*No Oil used .................. 516 pounds
WD-40 ..................... ... 238 pounds
PB Blaster .................... 214 pounds
Liquid Wrench ..............127 pounds
Kano Kroil .................... 106 pounds
ATF*-Acetone mix..........53 pounds *ATF=Automatic Transmission
Fluid
The ATF-Acetone mix is a "home brew" mix of 50 - 50 automatic
transmission fluid and acetone. Note this "home brew" released bolts
better than any commercial product.
In this one particular test our local machinist group mixed up a batch and we all now use it with equally good results.
Note also that "Liquid Wrench" is almost as good as "Kroil" For about 20% of the price.
