Another surprising oddity...how best to clean the wall paintings in the historic Uppsala Cathedral?

Who would guess rubbing them with loaves of bread!  It's true.

How long does the mixed up solution last?  Can it be reused often?

Jack

Hey Lurch!  Good to see you post again.  You have been missed.

I recently used the electrolysis method on a rim.  It also came out very nice.  With any rust removal method you can expect flash rust almost immediately after rinsing.  I typically towel the exposed surfaces as quickly as possible, then use compressed air to blow the surfaces and crevices dry.  Finally I spray with WD-40 or similar thin oil that can easily be removed later.

I picked up a bucket of Molasses from the local farmer supply this week and am going to give this a go in a big old rubbermaid container i have on hand. Cashier had to ask someone if they recorded names for this stuff, but the guy said nah what's he gonna do, make moonshine with it? haha it is a big bucket of molasses so it's always an option.

I read that the parts will start rusting as soon as you remove them from the mix so to coat with paint or oil to protect them right away. Any tips here?

Anyway I'm off to passively work on the Mini

Took some derusted bits - Cooper exhaust & LWB welded steel rear trumpet - to the club meeting to show the results of $7.99 for 1 gallon of molasses, water from the tap, tub originally bought to catch crap when cleaning a power unit hanging on a hoist (so dual purpose)...no rust versus substantial machine shop costs when not all rust removed from things like heads, blocks.

Gave the no rust 3 into 1 Cooper exhaust manifold back to the owner who has way too much stuff lying around on the ground, in wet grass.  Yes the 3 into 1 had holes/rot exposed but cheaply and effectively.

I was aware of the line of sight limits of electrolysis derusting, as we used it at work. So I stood my very rusty jacketed 1275 block and head on its end, and filled it with 1:3 molasses thru the water pump hole.

It took 3 weeks to clean up but turned out just fine. I re-used the same molasses mix after I hosed it out each week.

I think I confused you with the terminology.

The electrolysis process involves applying a current to/through an electrolytic solution (in this case sodium sulfate (not bi-sulfate)).  Iron or steel electrodes are placed in the solution and connected to one side of a DC voltage/current source with the rusty part connected to the other.  It is the flow of current through the electrolyte that disloges the rust.  It is in effect a reverse plating operation.  The solution itself does not act on the metal by itself.

With any electrolytic process (plating or rust removal) the current flows in a direction of least resistance.  That is the line of sight that Steve referred to.  If your water passages offer less resistance to current flow than the outside of the block then you will get some cleaning inside.  If the block is free of paint, grease, and oil, you will get preferential cleaning of the outside of the block with minimal cleaning in the water jacket and almost no cleaning at all at inside corners.

Given enough time and the build up of insulating deposits on the outside of the block you will start to clean the inner passages but it will be slow.

EDIT:  See the article linked below.  See the section "Cleaning inside a tight area like a engine water jacket" half way down the page.
//users.eastlink.ca/~pspencer/nsaeta/electrolysis.html

if the block is soaked in an electrolysis solution it will clean up no problems at all! if you want to clean the inside of the block without soaking it! you ll need to fill it in with solution and apply charge! i've done both ways worked great.

Like a plating operation, with electrolysis you will need to get the electrode "inside" the jacket to effectively clean it.  Since the molasses method is basically chemical, it doesn't have the line of sight limitation.

I plan to remove a very rusty water jacket block from my 3 to 1 mix after a week today. If the electrolysis process is mostly line of sight how does that effect cleaning the water jackets? I have found my before pics and will take after and see if I can get them posted. I picked up as scrap several 1275 blocks and stored inside. One of them will be my next try. Steve (CTR)

Yes Terry, you can reuse the molasses/water mix.

I reuse the mixture, adding water to account for evaporation.

Can you reuse the mixture?

I did a 10:1 solution and dumped the metric bolts from several MPi engines in. I left them for over a week. Many look good but some could use another week.

Terry

I've gonne the electrolysis way and never looked back! its just quicker for me..

Impressive!

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Well, here is the same head, 10 days In the molasses. Once out of the tub I scrubbed the goop off with some hot soapy water. It worked so well I tossed another one into the mix. I will get this one crack tested and maybe build it up for a spare

I decided it was time to set one of these up myself. I walk the dogs a mile twice a day and junk pickup day is interesting. All scrap metal is picked over during the night. An Igloo Cube big sq. cooler on wheels like a hand truck what could be more perfect? It took a week to find the molasses, food grade was not cheap. Animal feed grade required a ride out to the country. Washed and leak tested the cube. With water every where and the leak tiny I missed that. I put two gallons of molasses and 6 gallons of water. Just as I was pouring the last of the water in I noticed a brown circle forming on the floor. I grabbed every bucket I could find and started dipping. Starting over I removed the drain and sealed it with silicone and tapped the center and installed a pipe plug allen type. Refilled and dropped in first block perfect fit. I stir mine every day a couple of times a day. Having a good fitting lid is important. Tomorrow will be a full week. What's the thoughs about dipping in soda water after washing off? Steve (CTR)

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Welded steel trumpets from a 1962 Morris Estate are out of the bath...good for a period correct restoration.

They were really rusty!

So... after the de-rusting experiments we can expect DIY instructions on distillation?  High iron content booze... "it's good for you... and the environment".  You know the rules with owning British cars "don't throw anything away".

I like were this thread is headed !

So, what you're saying is we'd have the perfect ingredients for a home brewed 'Rusty Nail'.