As most of our karts are made from bits and pieces we have lying about, sometimes it requires rust being removed from steel to get a better finish .
Electrolysis is simply removing rust from steel using electricity.
This is what I use.
Materials required.
Bucket or any plastic tub depending on the size of part you are cleaning.
Electrolytes simply put, soda crystals and water.
Scrap metal plates, rods, etc. To go around the edge of the bucket. The rust is attracted to these.
Battery Charger The older the better. Newer ones have electronics and can be a bit funny when using them for this purpose.
I use about 1/2 a cup of soda crystals to 2 gallons of water.
The scrap metal around the edge is connected to the positive side of the charger. The peice to be cleaned connected to the negative.
I normally run the charger at 12v 2amp. My friend has used it at 16amp which cleans very quickly but I wouldn't walk away and leave it on its own.
Cleaning time can be from hours to day depending on the amount of rust and the size if the part.
When the electricity is turned on you will see a current forming in the bucket and small bubbles coming from the metal.
I find it a very good process if what you are cleaning is a delicate peice as it is a gentle process.
Hope this all makes sense,
Noel.