Electrolysis questions

[OnePot]

I am setting up a rig to clean with electrolysis and have several questions or concerns.

Do I need to put this away from everything else due to it causing everything within  its airspace to rust? I stored swimming pool "shock" in a storage building for several years only to discover everything was rusting that was inside the building with it. Does the PH+ emit fumes that will cause this?

Will it clean other types of metal without damage? If it will, even aluminum?

Can I reverse the polarity and hang a piece of scrap iron from the hook and use this to clean my stainless steel barrel? Or does the barrel even need to be cleaned?

Will leaving the PH+ in the barrel cause it to eat the stainless when not in use?

Can I hang more than one piece in barrel at the same time?

I already had a stainless steel barrel that is 15" wide and 24" high and really thick. Tried the magnet test and would not stick. I have a piece of stainless 3/4" rod that has a factory wooden handle on one end. I have a 35 amp battery charger. I have 1/4" stainless rod to make hooks out of to suspend cast into solution. Barrel even has 2 brackets to connect plexiglass posts to lay 3/4 rod in to hang cast. Found all this in a matter of an hour and never left my shop. Spent 6.00 on PH+.

Since solution will be putting off pure hydrogen, I  am thinking of doing this outside. I have a plastic pickle barrel that is large enough to put stainless barrel into and put charger in a seperate container to keep out of the weather. I will give it ventilation when in use but does anyone see a problem with screwing lid on tight when not in use?

I thought I would ask the old pros for advice so I can do it right the first time. Thanks in advance for any advice you can offer.

[fatfutures]

Morning David!

I am no "expert" but, I can answer a couple of your questions.

NO Aluminum...ferrous metals only can be cleaned with this method.

You can reverse the charge to clean your barrell. Does it "need" to be cleaned? I would say the set up would benefit from an occasional cleaning. THe method you described is the easiest way to do it.

I don't think the solution will harm the stainless steel. But, I'll leave the definitive answer for someone who has had a SS setup longer than I have.

That's about the extent of my knowledge. Except to add...if you can find it, Washing Soda is SO much cheaper the PH+. I buy a 3lb 7oz box of the stuff for $1.99!

[OnePot]

Thanks Michelle for your reply.

New thought, does the washing powder put off the hydrogen like the PH+ does? Is it as effective as the PH+, does it clean as well? Would it be safe to set this up inside a closed up shop? I really would like it better inside.

[Sandy Glenn]

Hello David and welcome to WAGS.  Both washing soda and ph+ are sodium carbonate; they're just in different forms.  They work equally well.

I have my set-up in my basement.  Unless your basement is air tight (and it probably isn't) you shouldn't have a problem with hydrogen emission from using electrolysis.  As a precaution, I placed mine away from my water heater, furnace and dryer.  I've never had a problem and I use my electrolysis a lot.

You can suspend more than one piece at a time, but if it gets too cluttered in there it will be less efficient.  Remember electricity follows the path of least resistance - a straight line.  Good luck!

[Al Andrews]

David, I can help with several of your questions.  You can clean several items at once, but the time to get them clean will be extended since the surface area to be cleaned has been increasted.  I keep, and use my system in my garage.  I do provide ventalation when in use - open door, window, etc.  The ph+ is not caustic so storing it is not a problem.

Al

[HarleyDawg]

I set one up in early December 2006, and 2 weeks ago, the stainless steel plate and pipe I was using for the positive were totally ruined. The pipe broke and the plate was shredded until nothing was left. I believe that I am the only person that has had this problem so far. The plate started out to be a 1/16 inch thick.

[Roger Barfield]

David and Josh, there are different grades of stainless steel.  I used a stainless steel restaurant tray for a year and a half before I got my barrel and it didn't hurt it at all when I took it out.  I've used the barrel for about the same length with no problems at all.  I do remember a post where someone used an old stainless beer keg and it started  to eat a hole through it.  It just depends on the grade of stainless and I guess what I've used is higher grade.  

As far as the solution, it's been in my barrel all this time and no problems at all.  I just add water due to evaporation, but I've never had to add any more sodium carbonate.  As far as isolating it, there is no need.   In fact, I have shelves full of cast iron about 3 feet from my barrel.  

The electro will ruin aluminum, so only clean cast iron.

There is a ton of info in the cleaning section of the forum here

 http://www.griswoldandwagner.com/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl?board=Cleaning

Scroll through the pages and you can find alot of good information and photos.  

[castironsasquatch]

Not to get away from the original questions, but I have heard some conflicting reports about the safety of using stainless steel for electro. I recently switched over from regular steel barrels to a stainless barrel. I read on some website a while back that chromium can contaminate the solution and cause a possible health risk. Is this true or not? I think this was talked about before, but I'd like some expert opinions on this just to be sure. Thanks.

ET

[Sandy Glenn]

Eric, There are several threads about this on the Cleaning board you may want to search for.  Speaking for myself, if I felt there were a health risk I would abandon the SS barrel and use a lye bath exclusively.  I think others would concur.

[C. Perry Rapier]

Eric, There are several threads about this on the Cleaning board you may want to search for.  Speaking for myself, if I felt there were a health risk I would abandon the SS barrel and use a lye bath exclusively.  I think others would concur.

Sandy, I agree, we have discussed this very question six ways from Sunday. Greg Stahl on the forum, thats Dr. Greg Stahl said that in his opinion there was no problem at all. I ain't tryin to quote him, but I do know this much. He's got a purty wife and two twin girls and I know that he would not do anything to endanger them, an thats good enough for me.  ;)

[fatfutures]

I like buying the Washing Soda because it's pure sodium carbonate and it's CHEAP  ;D

Ph+ is much more expensive..most be that pretty perfum they put in it... LOL!

[OnePot]

Thanks everyone for all of your replies. I feel I can do this the right way on the first attempt with your help. I am sure I will be back for future info and will try to contribute as well. I am not reaIly a collector but an accumulater, as I  read this somewhere on your forum and feel it fits me well also.

[ssgtrock092]

Hi David,
Shortly after supplying the photos used on the electrolysis part of this website for my little garage setup I stumbled upon the cleaner of a lifetime. I was asked to remove a washing machine from a local widows basement that was no longer operating. I agreed as it is still customary where I live to help each other out when in need. Once I got it loaded in my truck and had refused any compensation to haul it to our local scrap yard, I realized what I hadgotten for my labor. A Whirlool household high capacity washer with a Stainless Steel Tub. I went that weekend to a local mill and persuaded a half of a used apple juice barrel from the owner. I have used that tub for my electrolysis bath ever since. Believe it or not I can clean four skillets at once and except for changing the soup when I was tired of the color, I have not had to clean the drum of that washer tub. I adapted a Lincoln Weldpak 130 Amp wire feed welder instead of the battery charger and connect all pieces in parallel electrically. Cleaning  time is drastically cut at this power level but off-gassing is considerable. I only clean in my garage with the door left open.
Best of luck, Bob Smith

[Mary_Beth]

Bob,
I would love to see photos of your new setup our more of a description explaining what goes where. I need to put together something new since my tub has collapsed from the weight of the water. Please!

[MD]

Plus one for Bob. I found a dryer drum in stainless. I don't have it up and running yet but soon.  One more that might work is an old BBQ grill hood in stainless. I have seen plenty of them being junked. One would probably have to run the electro in reverse first just to clean the hood. Stainless junk prices are almost $2.00 per pound here.

[Mary_Beth]

I took a look at my washer which has a stainless drum. I think I see now how this could be used. i wonder what quality of stainless the washer manufacturers use. Might just have to watch for a junked washer :D

[Ed Allspaugh]

Find a large enough plastic barrel to slide them into ,would probably work well.

                   200 Series Austenitic – Alloys: 201, 202, 203, 204 & 205

Chromium-nickel-manganese alloy with high strength in the annealed . Non-magnetic, not heat treatable and has excellent formability for several forming applications.

Typical use: washing machine tubs, structural applications.

[Ed Allspaugh]

Not to get away from the original questions, but I have heard some conflicting reports about the safety of using stainless steel for electro. I recently switched over from regular steel barrels to a stainless barrel. I read on some website a while back that chromium can contaminate the solution and cause a possible health risk. Is this true or not? I think this was talked about before, but I'd like some expert opinions on this just to be sure. Thanks.ET

                Scroll down this page theres articles/info on Hex chromium  plus contacts for questions.

                   http://www.ssina.com/index2.html