E-tank set up

[LByles]

Ok I'm sure it's been posted on here already, but I'm sitting here searching and can't seem to find what I'm looking for directly. I have my chargers I plan to use coming in today and would like to get some stuff going when I get off work. It's pretty much the same charger that's in the coffee can electrolysis, 6V charger (like a lantern charger I think? Something like that) that already has alligator clips on it. I want to avoid slicing and dicing wires, so two questions:
1) I've watched tons of videos, but they contradict each other when it comes to the negative clip being allowed to be in the water. Can it go in the water or does it need to stay out?
2) I have two chargers coming to attempt two different methods and to be able to clean more than just two objects at a time (if one of my methods works). So I've seen videos were someone has wire wrapped around the relic and hanging from a board/wooden rod into the water, and then the negative is clipped to the top of the wire at the board (clip staying out of the water). Question on this: what type of wire is being used? Is like hobby bead wire ok? I've seen copper, but then people say no because it's messy and something else. Seen back and forth on stainless steel wire. Mechanics wire? Haywire? So if this is done, what time of "hanging wire" should I use?

Thanks in advance!

 

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[smokeythecat]

I use a 6 volt lantern battery, an inexpensive plastic "betta" tank for the little fish and a pair of double ended alligator clips from Wallymart. They are so cheap I let the end go in the water. I use ordinary baking soda for the reactant and you do NOT want them to touch each other in the tank. I use a piece of plastic or duct tape on the outside of the tank to hold it where I want it to go.

 

[LByles]

I use a 6 volt lantern battery, an inexpensive plastic "betta" tank for the little fish and a pair of double ended alligator clips from Wallymart. They are so cheap I let the end go in the water. I use ordinary baking soda for the reactant and you do NOT want them to touch each other in the tank. I use a piece of plastic or duct tape on the outside of the tank to hold it where I want it to go.

So this is what I ordered. Alligator clips already attached (score as I'm not into slicing wires lol). Do you attach the clip straight to the relic? Have you ever tried the "hanging wire" deal? I plan to use a small mop bucket (its pretty small). None of our finds have been super huge. Biggest I have right now is like 7-8 inches long, resembles some sort of blade (hyping myself up about what it is lol) but it fits in the bucket.

 

[civil_war22]

View attachment 1788631
So this is what I ordered. Alligator clips already attached (score as I'm not into slicing wires lol). Do you attach the clip straight to the relic? Have you ever tried the "hanging wire" deal? I plan to use a small mop bucket (its pretty small). None of our finds have been super huge. Biggest I have right now is like 7-8 inches long, resembles some sort of blade (hyping myself up about what it is lol) but it fits in the bucket.

Yes I just did an article on this the other day. Your anode and cathode both go in the water. The one bubbling should be the one that’s the cleaning one, so if you get them in the water, and realize the wrong item is bubbling then reverse the clips. It’s a simple set up, I’m building another one today, as I’ve got a old knife, and lock I’m going to be using it on.

To note: positive(anode) battery cable connects to your source of material you want to use to help clean the item on the other end. You can use, copper, iron, steel, or graphite rods to use as a conductor. Make sure your electrode(anode)= + side of cable is connected to something that is clean, don’t put in a rusty steel washer, rusty flat washer, or anything that will affect the outcome of the voltage being passed through the item, you want a good clean connection. I’ve used stainless steel spoons, bent them over until a portion of it is underwater, but stainless steel produces(chromium) a particle you don’t want to touch, smell, or get anywhere on you. So I would suggest either using a washer such as a large lock washer, or other steel or iron item as long as it’s clean.

The negative (cathode) cable connects to the item you want to clean. You want both the anode, and cathode to be completely submerged otherwise one portion of the cathode(your item you’re cleaning) will not be clean if it’s not all the way submerged. Use caution when placing your hands in the water to check on your item, use latex, or if allergic like me I use Nitrile gloves which are cheaper then dirt at any hardware, auto parts store. You don’t want any of the residue from the electrolysis on your hands, sole will say I’m being over cautious here( but in 30 years of doing this method of cleaning) I’ve learned: 1. If you’ve got a cut on your hand, or open wound, the positively charged, and negatively charged ions in the water can get in your cut, and cause a mean infection. 2. If not cuts on your hand, and you reach in to grab your items the possibility of the water/electrolyte mixture that’s been cooking for a while is not something you want on your skin because it may contain any number of harmful substances. **so just buy some gloves, or if can’t afford any then use a pair of old dish cleaning gloves**.

While this process differs in length of time for cleaning, you want to make sure if you’re doing this inside that you have it in a well ventilated area(somewhere for the hydrogen gas/oxygen mixture from electrolysis to escape) because you don’t want to breathe that in for very long either. I’m not trying to make this sound harder than it is I’m just giving you pointers on how to do it effectively, safely, and to make sure you, your family, home, and object you’re cleaning aren’t in any way effected by electrolysis or any of its waste(water, crud at the bottom of the bucket).

Do like Smokey said, use that powder, salt, lemon juice(smells better) or any form of electrolyte you want to. You SHOULD test out an item first before jumping on to the item you want to clean, with this probably being your first time, you want to make sure you don’t overcook it(toast it), if you’re going to be cleaning anything of value(gold,silver, aluminum, or even plated items) USE EXTREME CAUTION.. the fine details on coins will wear off if not monitored closely, gold, and silver items will lose small minute portions of them by using electrolysis, so don’t use it too long, and plated items( spoons, rings, anything that is not “genuine” precious metals will flake, crust, or will leave you with just a copper, or brass spoon, and have eaten away the gold or silver plating( ONLY if not watched properly.

So in the end, negative side goes to your item you want cleaned, positive to anything metallic(iron, steel, graphite, or any piece of scrap you’ve got lying around, just make sure that it is clean so you get a good clean connection. Secondly use caution(gloves, glasses, properly ventilated area), I may sound overly cautious, but I’ve been doing this a long time, and have seen others effected by using it, that didn’t heed warnings of others by not breathing in fumes, or reaching into a bucket full of harsh waste, gases, and toxic water.

I made it sound hard but + to cleaning agent, - to material you want to clean.

 

[LByles]

Yes I just did an article on this the other day. Your anode and cathode both go in the water. The one bubbling should be the one that’s the cleaning one, so if you get them in the water, and realize the wrong item is bubbling then reverse the clips. It’s a simple set up, I’m building another one today, as I’ve got a old knife, and lock I’m going to be using it on.

To note: positive(anode) battery cable connects to your source of material you want to use to help clean the item on the other end. You can use, copper, iron, steel, or graphite rods to use as a conductor. Make sure your electrode(anode)= + side of cable is connected to something that is clean, don’t put in a rusty steel washer, rusty flat washer, or anything that will affect the outcome of the voltage being passed through the item, you want a good clean connection. I’ve used stainless steel spoons, bent them over until a portion of it is underwater, but stainless steel produces(chromium) a particle you don’t want to touch, smell, or get anywhere on you. So I would suggest either using a washer such as a large lock washer, or other steel or iron item as long as it’s clean.

The negative (cathode) cable connects to the item you want to clean. You want both the anode, and cathode to be completely submerged otherwise one portion of the cathode(your item you’re cleaning) will not be clean if it’s not all the way submerged. Use caution when placing your hands in the water to check on your item, use latex, or if allergic like me I use Nitrile gloves which are cheaper then dirt at any hardware, auto parts store. You don’t want any of the residue from the electrolysis on your hands, sole will say I’m being over cautious here( but in 30 years of doing this method of cleaning) I’ve learned: 1. If you’ve got a cut on your hand, or open wound, the positively charged, and negatively charged ions in the water can get in your cut, and cause a mean infection. 2. If not cuts on your hand, and you reach in to grab your items the possibility of the water/electrolyte mixture that’s been cooking for a while is not something you want on your skin because it may contain any number of harmful substances. **so just buy some gloves, or if can’t afford any then use a pair of old dish cleaning gloves**.

While this process differs in length of time for cleaning, you want to make sure if you’re doing this inside that you have it in a well ventilated area(somewhere for the hydrogen gas/oxygen mixture from electrolysis to escape) because you don’t want to breathe that in for very long either. I’m not trying to make this sound harder than it is I’m just giving you pointers on how to do it effectively, safely, and to make sure you, your family, home, and object you’re cleaning aren’t in any way effected by electrolysis or any of its waste(water, crud at the bottom of the bucket).

Do like Smokey said, use that powder, salt, lemon juice(smells better) or any form of electrolyte you want to. You SHOULD test out an item first before jumping on to the item you want to clean, with this probably being your first time, you want to make sure you don’t overcook it(toast it), if you’re going to be cleaning anything of value(gold,silver, aluminum, or even plated items) USE EXTREME CAUTION.. the fine details on coins will wear off if not monitored closely, gold, and silver items will lose small minute portions of them by using electrolysis, so don’t use it too long, and plated items( spoons, rings, anything that is not “genuine” precious metals will flake, crust, or will leave you with just a copper, or brass spoon, and have eaten away the gold or silver plating( ONLY if not watched properly.

So in the end, negative side goes to your item you want cleaned, positive to anything metallic(iron, steel, graphite, or any piece of scrap you’ve got lying around, just make sure that it is clean so you get a good clean connection. Secondly use caution(gloves, glasses, properly ventilated area), I may sound overly cautious, but I’ve been doing this a long time, and have seen others effected by using it, that didn’t heed warnings of others by not breathing in fumes, or reaching into a bucket full of harsh waste, gases, and toxic water.

I made it sound hard but + to cleaning agent, - to material you want to clean.

Thank you! So do you suspend the item you're cleaning? Like to keep it off the bottom so everything can circulate around it better? I've seen videos where the relics are suspended from say a board or something set across the tank.

 

[civil_war22]

Thank you! So do you suspend the item you're cleaning? Like to keep it off the bottom so everything can circulate around it better? I've seen videos where the relics are suspended from say a board or something set across the tank.

Yes use a small piece of wood, lay it over the top of the tank to suspend it from the bottom, you don’t want it on the bottom.

 

[LByles]

Yes use a small piece of wood, lay it over the top of the tank to suspend it from the bottom, you don’t want it on the bottom.

What do you use for the suspension? That's the wire I'm trying to figure out.

 

[civil_war22]

What do you use for the suspension? That's the wire I'm trying to figure out.

Use the wires for the electrolysis, lay them across the piece of wood, and find something to keep them suspended. The positive side should be light since it only has the item that’s used to get electrolysis working. What I use is clamps to keep mine suspended, but you can also use a heavier object lay it on the board, and wires to keep it off the bottom. I always used a stainless spoon I bent to lay on the corner of jar, and part of the spoon would be submerged. The negative side which is the side your item you want to clean can be held up by however you choose. I’ve had them on the bottom as well, and they did clean, I just like having mine suspended

 

[LByles]

Use the wires for the electrolysis, lay them across the piece of wood, and find something to keep them suspended. The positive side should be light since it only has the item that’s used to get electrolysis working. What I use is clamps to keep mine suspended, but you can also use a heavier object lay it on the board, and wires to keep it off the bottom. I always used a stainless spoon I bent to lay on the corner of jar, and part of the spoon would be submerged. The negative side which is the side your item you want to clean can be held up by however you choose. I’ve had them on the bottom as well, and they did clean, I just like having mine suspended

Ah ok so you suspend directly from the clip. For smaller objects I will probably clip directly. But for larger ones (my clips are on the smaller side) I want to try clipping onto something that connects to the relic. Like suspending the relic from some type of wire attached to the board and then clip the negative to that wire at the board.

 

[civil_war22]

Ah ok so you suspend directly from the clip. For smaller objects I will probably clip directly. But for larger ones (my clips are on the smaller side) I want to try clipping onto something that connects to the relic. Like suspending the relic from some type of wire attached to the board and then clip the negative to that wire at the board.

I’ve always just hooked it directly to the object. If you don’t get it fully submerged it’ll leave a weird dirty streak on the unclean portion. It’s easier to just lay the wire over whatever you’re using to hold the water and do it that way. It’s way easier than most people make it sound. Add water, your electrolyte, then attach the wires to the appropriate sides, and then if they dangle too close to the bottom, pull the wires father away from the object holding the water. It’s simple. Easier than buying more clamps, and doesn’t take any additional hardware. If you’ve got the plug in the wall kind of kit, just move you jug

 

[LByles]

I’ve always just hooked it directly to the object. If you don’t get it fully submerged it’ll leave a weird dirty streak on the unclean portion. It’s easier to just lay the wire over whatever you’re using to hold the water and do it that way. It’s way easier than most people make it sound. Add water, your electrolyte, then attach the wires to the appropriate sides, and then if they dangle too close to the bottom, pull the wires father away from the object holding the water. It’s simple. Easier than buying more clamps, and doesn’t take any additional hardware. If you’ve got the plug in the wall kind of kit, just move you jug

Gotcha! Thanks! I'll be playing this afternoon. 2:00 needs to hurry lol I'll post some before and after pics of the set up after I attempt cleaning!

 

[civil_war22]

Gotcha! Thanks! I'll be playing this afternoon. 2:00 needs to hurry lol I'll post some before and after pics of the set up after I attempt cleaning!

I thought I’d need new clips, but forgot my trickle charger clips are still good

 

[villagenut]

Not sure anyone brought this up.....but make sure your sacrificial annode(the junk metal) is not fully submerged so that your alligator clip is NOT in the electrolyte solution but rather, clipped on outside of the solution......If it is, then it(your alligator clip) will also be sacrificed in the process. This would be your positive alligator clip, as previously stated.

 

[civil_war22]

Not sure anyone brought this up.....but make sure your sacrificial annode(the junk metal) is not fully submerged so that your alligator clip is NOT in the electrolyte solution but rather, clipped on outside of the solution......If it is, then it(your alligator clip) will also be sacrificed in the process. This would be your positive alligator clip, as previously stated.

That’s why I mentioned using the bent over spoon. Submerge the spoon, but clip the alligator clip to the spoon. If he isn’t worried about sacrificing a clip, it’ll take a few times to ruin the clip, he’d just have to go to Harbour freight or somewhere else to buy some more cheap clips

 

[LByles]

Thanks guys! So I have the set up going. Unplugged it last night before we went to bed. Had severe weather rolling through and the set up is under our carport. Plugged it back up this morning. So I know there’s something with if there’s too much washing powder or not enough, then the cleaning processes is slower or doesn’t work? Can’t remember which. And not sure if doing something small will really cause the foamy yuck I’ve seen build up on the surface in videos. It is bubbling and I can see the current in the water. I did use distilled water. I have a feeling I’ll be buying tons of jugs lol But I haven’t noticed a big difference in the item yet? It’s been running for maybe 5 hours? I’ll post a pic in just a minute.

 

[LByles]

Not the best pic but its not very bright outside yet and I had to use the flash.

 

[Professor of Engineering]

IMHO: While completing the process, please keep an eye on the object. This is a destructive process so careful observation of the artifact during the process is advised.

 

[LByles]

IMHO: While completing the process, please keep an eye on the object. This is a destructive process so careful observation of the artifact during the process is advised.

Yes I have been checking it every 30 minutes to an hour and I don’t leave it plugged if I can’t check it. Right now we are leaving to hit a new permission so I’ve unplugged. It’s ok still sitting in the solution though huh? I don’t have anything special in there right now. Just a piece that I doubt is anything important.

 

[villagenut]

I would not worry about leaving it going, it is fine unattended. But make sure you are attaching the negative clip to an exposed section of the encrusted iron.....or at least the most cleaned up portion available. Play around with both clips until you see some good bubble action. A less than good connection will amount to an extremely slow if not unproductiive bath.

 

[civil_war22]

Definitely make sure the negative post is placed in a “cleaner” area, then the positive looks good. If you see some good bubbling action you’ll be good. Soon you’ll start getting the nasty froth on the top of the water