Anyone tried electrolysis yet?

Wundercade

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Removing Rust From Metal with Electrolysis - Youtube

Has anyone tried this? I have to remove the rust from my Galaga coin inserts. I was wondering if said inserts are plated and if so, will electrolysis not work?

This is what I am referring to:

3844612110_0b82507974.jpg
 
I've done it on metal detecting finds.

If you use a small transformer don't put too much detergent/soda/etc in the water or you'll pull too much current and fry the power source.

The power source MUST be DC...

and...

Make sure you have the leads right or you'll plate instead. ;)
 
Yes they were originally chrome plated. Those clean up fairly well with really fine #000 steel wool. After cleaning they need to be waxed to protect it from rusting again.
A mild acid pickle would remove the rust without reverse electroplating. The problem is with either method you will be removing more of the chrome and nickle from the part.
I deplate with a plating rectifier, lead anode and the proper solution. The chrome plate would be removed in a muratic acid/distilled water pickel then the nickel is removed in a nickel bath. If the part was triple plated you would have to remove the copper as well if needed or you could plate more copper on it and buff it back smooth to prep it for new nickel. I would only do this if I was going to replate the part. I reccomend steel wool and wax on that one, its not that bad.
Probably too much info but more is better right?
 
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I use Turtle Wax Chrome Polish with 0000 steel wool and get amazing results on rusted coin entrys like those. You can also chuck those tiny carriage bolts in a drill and spin them on the same steel wool with polish and make them look new too.

Buff with a cloth towel after polishing.
 
You can always try CLR. I've soaked things in it and scrubbed it with a tooth brush and the rust was completely removed. Just clean and buff afterwards.
 
Have any of you tried cleaning small rust spots off with wet tinfoil? it works pretty good and is cheap. Not a good solution for big pits and bad spots though
 
I use Evapo-Rust, a liquid you simply immerse your rusted part in. It will not damage metal, requires no fancy setup and no scrubbing is needed. Safe to use indoors without gloves.

Get it at auto parts stores.
 
I use Evapo-Rust, a liquid you simply immerse your rusted part in. It will not damage metal, requires no fancy setup and no scrubbing is needed. Safe to use indoors without gloves.

Get it at auto parts stores.


Probably the same as Ospho, its great stuff. I have a car in my garage that has been bare steel for 8 years and it has no surface rust. The ospho kills rust and will keep it from rusting as long as it doesnt get wet
 
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