Epic electrolysis is epic

Pistonbroke666 · 16th September 2014, 05:40

Hi all

Began work on the 190 brake upgrade this weekend which meant getting the calipers and carriers from the second hand set ready to paint.

Not wanting to hand clean them me and my dad went down the electrolysis path. Turns out that was a very good route to take...

And here's the final result after around 8 hours. Not bad at all

and after doing both rear calipers the bucket looked like this...

Fortunately it cleaned up nicely to this...

And now we wait to see how the bigger front brakes fare...

maxi_crawf · 16th September 2014, 06:18

Flippin Ek!
Details?

Pistonbroke666 · 16th September 2014, 07:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by maxi_crawf

Flippin Ek!
Details?

On the process itself?
In a nut shell, you're passing a negative charge through the item (caliper).
The charge is trying to head towards the positive anodes (those metal bars), taking all the rust and muck with it.

Pistonbroke666 · 16th September 2014, 07:23

It's worth adding that the liquid is just water and a couple of tablespoons worth of soda crystals - the crystals help the charge get over to the anodes (like a conductor).

klarzy · 16th September 2014, 07:53

what voltage, ampage and time did you use?

Pistonbroke666 · 16th September 2014, 08:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by klarzy

what voltage, ampage and time did you use?

The battery charger we used was a commercial set up but you don't need anything that big - a standard battery charger running at 12 volts will do.

The amp flow didn't even register so it obviously self regulates at a minimal flow.

Average time taken was 7 hours. One we left over 10 hours and it had the same effect as the 7 hours session.

ceedy · 16th September 2014, 08:08

I used to do similar and used a car battery , with a 21w bulb or 2 in series in the line to control the amps.

link to a similar page..

also used the same sort of setup to do nickel and copper plating

different liquids in the bucket

tho' but quite easy

C.

mystabe · 16th September 2014, 08:20

I have to say, that's a very impressive bucket!! Everyone I know who has done it (myself included) have just used a normal bucket/bin with a bit of steel in the water as the positive electrode but that looks like it would probably work rather better - is it a bought item or something 'homemade' ?

klarzy · 16th September 2014, 08:27

I am thinking use this to clean then reverse the flow and use a sacrificial Zinc anode to plate the callipers.... mmmmm shiney....

Pistonbroke666 · 16th September 2014, 08:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by mystabe

I have to say, that's a very impressive bucket!! Everyone I know who has done it (myself included) have just used a normal bucket/bin with a bit of steel in the water as the positive electrode but that looks like it would probably work rather better - is it a bought item or something 'homemade' ?

We made this at home - arc welded the sacraficial anodes to bolts so that they were easy to take on/off.
I like to think that by surrounding the calipers with anodes we ensured best coverage.

It took an hour or two to setup but like painting, it's all in the prep for the best finish.

If you've any queries on the setup do let me know.

16th September 2014, 05:40	#1
Pistonbroke666 Posted a thing or two MG ZT 1.8T, MG GS Exclusive Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Grays Essex Posts: 1,809 Thanks: 100 Thanked 282 Times in 205 Posts	Epic electrolysis is epic Hi all Began work on the 190 brake upgrade this weekend which meant getting the calipers and carriers from the second hand set ready to paint. Not wanting to hand clean them me and my dad went down the electrolysis path. Turns out that was a very good route to take... And here's the final result after around 8 hours. Not bad at all and after doing both rear calipers the bucket looked like this... Fortunately it cleaned up nicely to this... And now we wait to see how the bigger front brakes fare... Last edited by Pistonbroke666; 16th September 2014 at 05:50..

16th September 2014, 07:53	#5
klarzy This is my second home none but not gone Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: March, Cambs Posts: 16,437 Thanks: 894 Thanked 4,247 Times in 3,025 Posts	what voltage, ampage and time did you use? __________________ [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]….All praise Bananaswan….

16th September 2014, 08:08	#7
ceedy This is my second home All Trophy Blue ,ZT260#50 , ZT CDTI Auto, ZR105+ and 1.8T Firefrost spoiling the Set . Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Nr Sherborne But in Somerset.. Posts: 6,076 Thanks: 916 Thanked 1,214 Times in 768 Posts	I used to do similar and used a car battery , with a 21w bulb or 2 in series in the line to control the amps. link to a similar page.. also used the same sort of setup to do nickel and copper plating different liquids in the bucket tho' but quite easy C. __________________ The Three Bloo's Wifey's Zr105, MY CDTI & 260 #50 and Number One sons 1.8T in Firefrost When I were a lad Zero to 142 in 10.25 secs at the Pod on my Blown Norton. 210 Kart Champ in 70's

16th September 2014, 08:27	#9
klarzy This is my second home none but not gone Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: March, Cambs Posts: 16,437 Thanks: 894 Thanked 4,247 Times in 3,025 Posts	I am thinking use this to clean then reverse the flow and use a sacrificial Zinc anode to plate the callipers.... mmmmm shiney.... __________________ [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]….All praise Bananaswan….

16th September 2014, 06:18	#2
maxi_crawf Posted a thing or two R75 Saloon Conn CDT SE, MG ZT190+ Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Kingston-upon-Hull Posts: 1,960 Thanks: 823 Thanked 426 Times in 274 Posts	Flippin Ek! Details?

16th September 2014, 07:23	#4
Pistonbroke666 Posted a thing or two MG ZT 1.8T, MG GS Exclusive Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Grays Essex Posts: 1,809 Thanks: 100 Thanked 282 Times in 205 Posts	It's worth adding that the liquid is just water and a couple of tablespoons worth of soda crystals - the crystals help the charge get over to the anodes (like a conductor).

16th September 2014, 08:20	#8
mystabe Posted a thing or two Mazda 6 Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Wigan Posts: 1,384 Thanks: 266 Thanked 398 Times in 287 Posts	I have to say, that's a very impressive bucket!! Everyone I know who has done it (myself included) have just used a normal bucket/bin with a bit of steel in the water as the positive electrode but that looks like it would probably work rather better - is it a bought item or something 'homemade' ?