Electrolysis Rust Removal ???

[ThreeToedNewt]

Trying to set myself for for the problems I expect to encounter. A rust gas tank is one of them.

Has anyone used electrolysis rust removal in a gas tank followed by a copper flash and nickle plating?

I've done small brackets, belt pulleys and things before. It was actually fun doing the mad scientist thing. I am wondering it it would work on a gas tank.

 

[bosco659]

Use deionized water in the process. Cathode placement inside the tank will be tricky and to get into corners will be difficult. Personally I’d use Evaporust. Expensive but effective. How bad is the tank? I don’t know anything about plating.

 

[Niels B]

I would think it’ll works as well on a gas tank as any other steel object - just require a large “bath” to accommodate the tank. Haven’t tried larger object though.

 

[mrtwowheel]

I did it on one tank. Used a camcorder transformer and old pushrods. Worked great but took 4 or 5 cleanings and setups. Probably the safest way to do it, no acid or stress on the seams.

 

[jetmechmarty]

Is this hypothetical? I’m assuming it is.
It’s going to depend upon the condition of the tank. I’ve used a few methods. If its a nice tank with a few little rust spots, do as recommended by @bosco659, Evaporust. For a rusty tank, I’m going to use diluted phosphoric acid. Electrolysis works, but I’m not doing that again. It’s too much bother. Phosphoric acid is cheap and effective.

Tank derusting has been covered on the forums a good bit.

 

[willis]

I just did two tanks last week using Vinegar. Cheap and effective, but it is a manual process.

 

[Mikey]

 

[mike in idaho]

I just did two tanks last week using Vinegar. Cheap and effective, but it is a manual process.

Do you use it full strength, or diluted?

 

[bosco659]

I’ve used vinegar too but found it to be a fairly slow process on heavier rust, plus it flash rusted quickly.

 

[Wingedwheel]

I used the vinegar method several times with good success and one tank was really rusty. After the rinse I just used air to dry it and got zero flash. Vinager used was straight of the grocers shelf.

 

[nj1639]

Straight store bought white vinegar, undiluted, worked over a couple few days.
Diluted muratic brick wash acid worked immediately.

 

[willis]

Store bought vinegar is about 5% acidity. Mine took 2 days per tank with a rinse and agitation with screws inside. After the vinegar it got rinsed out with baking soda and water to neutralize any remnant vinegar. Shop air to dry and a coating of my favorite penetrant fluid. Many rinse with 2cycle gas/oil mix.