Grant, I started out fancy by drilling a close-fitting hole in the
graphite and inserting a copper wire with the insulation stripped back
a bit. Then, I sealed it with glue.

All that is not necessary. Now, I simply allow the electrode to stick
out of the solution a half inch, or so, and attach the alligator clip
from the power supply.

Ah. That makes sense. I may wind up going that way yet. On another issue, I
wonder if there's any way to "soak up" the bubbled off hydrogen. For example, if
there were some common household chemical that freely dissolved large amounts of
hydrogen, maybe you could soak a rag in it and drape it over the bucket.

Grant