Hello,

I am in the process of de-rusting my fuel tank and it is going through the electrolysis at the moment.

I was wondering if anybody tried it and what currents were observed.

My battery charger shows that the current is at the most 1A when using 12V 6A setting.

Cheers,
Jenya

It's something I thought about doing but haven't yet ...

This guys says he looks for 6 to 10 amps while de-rusting. Depends on your actual electrolyte solution and other factors.

linky :

http://users.moscow.com/oiseming/rustdemo/rustdemo.htm

This guy is suggesting to use an electrode the size of the licence plate. Perhaps, then it would conduct 6A.

I can't fit a licence plaate inside of the tank, so I think my current would have to do. In fact, it is working very well.
It does seem to remove/convert alot of rust. I will change the eletrolite soon, not because it is not workign, but because it is all brown with rust, and I may as well dump it and start clean.

I will run it for another day and then re-line the tank with POR-15 starting tomorrow night.

Cheers,
Jenya

I just dumped the one day old electrolite. Holly Cow!!!

It came out dark-dark-dark brown, nearly black. After it had finished draining, it left a very think layer of very fine griit in the sink.

After I emptied the tank I glanced inside and it looks heaps better. Instead of pitted, flaky rust, it now looks more like a flash rust.
I am starting the day two of electrolysis with a crystal clear solution. Will see how it is by the end of tomorrow.

Jenya

stick your tongue in the water

You could roll up your electrode (license plate size) for maximum surface area.

Got any before and after shots of the process ?

No, I haven't taken any pictures. I will take one of the all the rusty gunk that accumulates on the electrode tonight.
I think it would be hard to take a picture of the inside of the tank. Besides, I haven't taken the Before picture anyway.

I do need a new electrode as the one I had started with is erroding away and has few tiny holes in it already.

Jenya

What are you using for the solution and electrodes?

washing soda solution for the eletrolyte and steel electrodes.

I just replaced the solution again and after two days of running the electrolysis, the tank looks amazing comparing to where I started. In fact,
it looks nerly flawless. I have to look hard to find rust discoloration. All the flaky, pitted rust just vanished.

Here is the anode after two days of running the electrolysis:
http://culbertfamily.com/jenya/gs500/tank_derust/DSC00177.JPG
http://culbertfamily.com/jenya/gs500/tank_derust/DSC00180.JPG
http://culbertfamily.com/jenya/gs500/tank_derust/DSC00182.JPG

I had decided to run it for one more day before applying POR-15.

Here is my new anode:
http://culbertfamily.com/jenya/gs500/tank_derust/DSC00188.JPG
http://culbertfamily.com/jenya/gs500/tank_derust/DSC00193.JPG
http://culbertfamily.com/jenya/gs500/tank_derust/DSC00195.JPG
http://culbertfamily.com/jenya/gs500/tank_derust/DSC00197.JPG

Cheers,
Jenya

Is there a way to electronically deposit zinc on it. Electronic zinc will work so great wihtout any of the ill effects of acid treating.
Cool.
Srinath.