electrolysis

[reverb]

...hello, so a bit tired of these other methods to get rid of the rust I am giving a chance to this one; however, I do not see that anything happened. I mean, after I connected everything etc, I did not saw any bubbles or like that in the electrolytic liquid...why not?

-the process: I have the tank filled since yesterday, connected the positive to the anode and the negative to the tank; couple hours ago I changed the negative to one of the petcocks to see if I have a better connection.
I have a battery and a charger in parallel.

[TigerAlex]

If I recall correctly, you have the wires correctly connected. Are you using proper solution? You need to use need to have washing soda, not baking soda, in the water solution.
Alex

[Lester]

I've done this successfully with washing soap.... I used a rebar as an anode. Make sure your anode isn't shorting to the tank somewhere in there.
Mine bobbled after a short time.... I left the set up over night, 12V charger only and all old paint and rust was gone.... the bare steel was left dark.

Lester

[PhilipRides]

Originally Posted by Lester

I've done this successfully with washing soap.... I used a rebar as an anode. Make sure your anode isn't shorting to the tank somewhere in there.
Mine bobbled after a short time.... I left the set up over night, 12V charger only and all old paint and rust was gone.... the bare steel was left dark.

Lester

Washing soap + rebar worked for me too...

[reverb]

...I used sodium carbonate transformed by heating sodium bi carbonate in the stove.
I put around 600 grams and filled the tank (Triumph slim tank)

I m thinking to put salt and in that case no doubt that I ll have a conductive liquid there but is not good for the tank to use salt...

[Tony the torch]

whats wrong with just using CLR to remove the rust ?

[Lester]

there must be a simple mistake going on somewhere... it should be doing its thing as is. Have you checked all your connections? Sure your not grounded out inside of the tank??? Pictures please

[Lester]

this is pretty much what I did with success.

You Tube

You Tube

Skip the battery

[reverb]

...Hi Philiprides; yes, I m using a rebar.
Hello Tony, what s a CLR?

Hello Lester, with a battery is better; also without I need a "manual" charger; but I have an automatic one, this is no good for the current that I need to obtain.

-I just discarded all the liquid...now I have more rust due to 3 days with water...refilled with water and Sodium Hydroxide. I tell ya that I saw the reaction...the rubber cap did not hold in place due to the pressure or like that so I put another small rebar in prevention of that happens again and touch the tank; however, seems that smaller is not so good; I do not feel the water reaction now...but I ll let it all the night.

[johnjzjz]

we use cider vinegar full strength its cheap and in a couple of days its gone and no paint issues that is a thing in my shop with original paint bikes with rusty tanks

the indians and the harley 45 / JDs and alike types that share an oil tank up top can also be done

we flush it with water and then use rubbing alcohol to remove all the water

[Lester]

Originally Posted by reverb

.

Hello Lester, with a battery is better; also without I need a "manual" charger; but I have an automatic one, this is no good for the current that I need to obtain.

-I just discarded all the liquid...now I have more rust due to 3 days with water...refilled with water and Sodium Hydroxide. I tell ya that I saw the reaction...the rubber cap did not hold in place due to the pressure or like that so I put another small rebar in prevention of that happens again and touch the tank; however, seems that smaller is not so good; I do not feel the water reaction now...but I ll let it all the night.

Reverb, what do you mean rubber cap and pressure????
Did you watch the vid I posted, do exactly what he does and it will work

Lester

[reverb]

...Hi Lester; the guy did couple of things not so good; anyway; this time worked with the Sodium Hydroxide; no more rust; however no rust in the anode too ¿?...

-rubber cap to cover the gas filler hole and insulate the anode; the pressure of the heated liquid blow off the cap, so I used an small rebar cut and let the filler hole a bit opened to let the gases to escape.

[Lester]

Aha OK.... good thing it worked out.... I've even used washing detergent to get me out of a jam... worked well. Some debris was on the anode and some in the water and some on the bottom of my bucket.

What did the guy in the vid do wrong?

Lester

[reverb]

...no debris here; only slight brown liquid; then after cleaned several times and you can see the metal right however if you pass the finger I found kind of a smut, so I passed a chain several times and cleaned again.

-couple of things: the battery charger is not better in the minimum like he says; then is really important to have a battery in parallel. Also, put more soda.

[Tim The Grim]

This is a pretty concise page on the topic I found from an antique firearm restoration site. Hope it helps.

http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/andyspatch/rust.htm#top

[Ratso]

It must have been painful to pass a chain.

[M.O.Ther]

Since it was asked and not yet answered CLR is a cleaning product engineered for calcium, lime and rust stains. http://www.jelmar.com/CLRbasic.htm Some people have had success using it to get rust out of motorcycle tanks. I think Tony was offering a solution other than electrolysis.