How long to dunk in electrolysys bath

[drgoose]

As per the instructions in the argentino rolling block thread i built an electrolysis tank for the small parts to be cleaned. Typically how long do I have to keep the small parts in the bath?

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[Patrick Chadwick]

If the bath is "fizzing", then as little as 5-10 minutes could be enough for visible results. If you keep the current low enough that you only see individual bubbles forming and popping, then you can leave it going all night. Theoretically, one could work out something on the basis of the area to be cleaned and the optimum current density. If anyone out there knows the max. current density for electroplating iron and steel, then something similar would be appropriate. And then one would have to work out the surface area of the pieces being cleaned. So we apply creative laziness, a.k.a. "suck it and see".

Go way too slow and the pieces will rust while they are being cleaned, because there is insufficient "tension" (electrical field) in the bath to keep the ions flowing in the right direction! So make sure that you see at least a steady generation of bubbles. And as I am not an electrolysis expert I might start talking tripe if I expound overmuch on theory. So I just turn up the current from zero to the unscientifically defined "plenty of bubbles, but not really fizzing" level as I want to reduce the rust, not electrolyse water, and take the pieces out for inspection about every 1/4 hour until I have the impression there's no more progress being made.

Unscientific -yes. Successful - yes.

Don't worry - it's not an exact science!

Just make sure that your power supply really is operating in the current limiting mode!