On Wed, 23 Jan 2013 10:04:52 -0500, Tim M wrote:


Also, you gotta be careful of the hydrogen accmulation with electrolytic
derusting - DAMHIKT

If you're generating that much hydrogen, you're using too much
amperage.

It's funny/peculiar, I'd been doing the ER for years always at around the
same current levels and with the same lack of care with regard to making
sparks, and using the same equipment; then one time when I made a spark
there was a bright light and a (rather quiet) boom along with a whoosh of
air reflecting back out of the tub. Maybe there just wasn't as much air
circulation that day...

People seem to think you want a full boil. Actually, you just want
enough to produce a bubble or two.

I usually derust pretty rusty stuff, don't want to have to wait days for
it to be done...)

In archaeological work, they use about 2-10 mA/cm^2 of surface, max.
That's too slow for ordinary de-rusting, but adjust power down until
there are no more than a few bubles being generated at a time. It
works better, although it takes longer. And you won't generate enough
hydrogen to worry about it.

Scraper

Interesting, thanks for the comments.