Question about cleaning with electolysis

[je177]

I made a simple electolysis sytem like this one: http://www.mycoincollecting.com/collecting/cleaning-coins-electrolysis.html

It seemed like it was working. There was bubbling on the item being cleaned (an old lock). I left it alone for about an hour and when I returned.........no bubbling. The item was not cleaned. I attached another item and there was no bubbling on that one either. I confirmed the power source. What could be the problem. The container is a 12x9 plastic container. Any info would be great. Thanks.

J

 

[Ray S ECenFL]

Be sure the negative lead is on the object being cleaned. Be sure your postivie lead is making good contact with your stainless steel spoon, fork or what ever object you are using. Change your water/salt/lemon juice mixture put in all fresh.

See link for great details.

http://www.mycoincollecting.com/collecting/cleaning-coins-electrolysis.html

Ray S

 

[Tom_in_CA]

Ray gives a good answer so far. My experience with this method is you have to stop after a certain amount of time, like ....... it can't go beyond a certain amount of corrosion coming to the surface, without first cleaning that crud off, and "starting over". Also the contact points, as Roy says, have to be re-cleaned, even though they may appear clean, the process of this method seems to disolve the contact points themselves, to the point where you need to stop it all, break off the end of the disolved stainless steel spoon (which will disolve to the touch, it seems) and start over. Seems like a big chore, but consider that: 1) stainless steel spoons and forks 2) salt water, 3) electricity from the A/C adapter & outlet, are bascially free You will occasionlly also need to trim back the insulator plastic from the wire leading to the various aligator clamps and re-start, since they too will get corroded in the salt water.