Re: Why washing soda for electrolysis ???

[amuller]

quote nali:

In quite all the topics ab0ut rust removal with electrolysis, I read you have to use Washing Soda.
What I understand is tap water is not really conductive for electricity, so we need ions.
Washing Soda is basic, I ve used any lye based drain cleaner with succes also.

The problem is Washing Soda is not always easy to find. I can’t find it in Québec …
We find some reciepes to heat Backing Soda in the oven and change it to Washing.

I wonder if the use of Washing Soda is not just an urban legend … Maybe the first set up of this kind on Internet used it and everybody does the same without any other reason ? 🙂

From my own experience, I’ve been using salt for years. Easy to find in any kitchen or to remove ice in winter. It works perfectly and is cheap.
I never had any problem after painting parts.

So … Any reason to use Washing Soda instead of anything ?

Salt will work to increase the conductivity of the water, but will also make it corrosive, like sea water. Possibly not a problem if you rinse very thoroughly. But chlorides can also cause stress corrosion cracking of some metals.