Old Electrolysis Information

[Jerry Cermack]

I recently found this information from years ago when I had a setup to derust tools.  Thought some people might find it interesting.

The amount of current your setup draws depends upon the following:

Power supply voltage—More volts, more current.

Size of workpiece—Larger workpiece, more current.

Size of “waste” electrode—Larger waste electrode, more current.

Workpiece/waste electrode spacing—Shorter distance, more current.  Longer spacing, less current.         

Strength of solution—Stronger solution, more current.


One 3½ pound box of washing soda and an 18-ounce container of Red Devil lye  for a 55-gallon batch.......and it was called a fairly weak solution?

Here is a recipe for a strong solution for 1 gallon of water:

Washing soda                                10-oz.
Lye                                               1.7-oz.
Tri-sodium-phosphate (TSP)         3.3-oz.
Water glass (sodium silicate)          1.7-oz.

Multiply it out and you’ll find it would require almost ten boxes of washing soda for a 55-gallon batch! 

[Cheryl Watson]

Maybe needs a disclaimer on it! ;D
Yikes.... what year was that from??

[Jerry Cermack]

Maybe needs a disclaimer on it! ;D
Yikes.... what year was that from??

I dont remember what year it was, but I've seen it since then on the internet

[Trevor Lawrence]

Here is a recipe for a strong solution for 1 gallon of water:

Washing soda                                10-oz.
Lye                                               1.7-oz.
Tri-sodium-phosphate (TSP)         3.3-oz.
Water glass (sodium silicate)          1.7-oz.

Multiply it out and you’ll find it would require almost ten boxes of washing soda for a 55-gallon batch! 

Is this recipe safe? I noticed you used the setup for tools.

I have been looking for a new solution to try in my 5 gallon setup to compare to just water/washing soda. Wanna see if there is a huge difference....

[Cheryl Watson]

I would NOT recommend trying that one....
Those combinations and strengths.... Lye is an extremely strong base, Sodium Carbonate is a strong base, and TSP... well is washes my walls pretty well.... and at those super concentrations...........yikes.

We know from the anecdotal information here on the forum, over the years, that a high concentration of washing soda, (sodium bicarbonate), will cause overheating of the connecting clamps, and cause them to go poof! and the poor battery charger...... ::)