Front End Loader Electrolysis?

[avc8130]

I recently picked up a used tractor. The front end loader bucket is in rough shape due to spending its winters loading ice melt.

I have been debating methods to remove the rust and give it some fresh paint. Reading a few threads on electrolysis has me intrigued.

My main stumbling point is making a vat to perform this. I have come up with a simple solution...but I am not sure if it will work:

The vast majority of the suspect rust is on the inside of the bucket. Can I literally use the bucket as its own vat? I was thinking I could remove the bucket from the machine and place it on a wood pallet. I would prop it up stable so it will hold the water and washing soda solution using wooden cribbing. Then I can use a few pieces of 2x4 over the bucket to suspend the rebar dangling inside the bucket. Positive lead from the battery charger on the rebar, negative on the bucket.

Will this work?

ac

 

[Diamondpilot]

Just have it sand blasted. Why go though all the trouble. Not sure how big of a loader you are talking about but I had my Truck Snow Plow and all the mounts blasted for $100 2 years ago. I would guess a loader would be about $150 at my guy.

Chris

 

[digger2]

I second sandblasting.Alot less trouble,plus the new paint will stick to the steel better than when it was new.And yeah it costs a little bit but you cant beat it for preping for paint,especially for something like tractor parts.
Thats why i have my own sandblasting equipment.

digger2

 

[mad_planter]

I recently picked up a used tractor. The front end loader bucket is in rough shape due to spending its winters loading ice melt.

I have been debating methods to remove the rust and give it some fresh paint. Reading a few threads on electrolysis has me intrigued.

My main stumbling point is making a vat to perform this. I have come up with a simple solution...but I am not sure if it will work:

The vast majority of the suspect rust is on the inside of the bucket. Can I literally use the bucket as its own vat? I was thinking I could remove the bucket from the machine and place it on a wood pallet. I would prop it up stable so it will hold the water and washing soda solution using wooden cribbing. Then I can use a few pieces of 2x4 over the bucket to suspend the rebar dangling inside the bucket. Positive lead from the battery charger on the rebar, negative on the bucket.

Will this work?

ac

I see no reason why not. I wouldn't even bother removing it. I would use something other than rebar. The more surface area to the anode the better. Its certainly going to be less hassle then messing around with a sandblaster. After its clean scrub it down, pickle it with some phosphoric acid, and paint it and you'll know there's not a speck of rust under it.

 

[avc8130]

I see no reason why not. I wouldn't even bother removing it. I would use something other than rebar. The more surface area to the anode the better. Its certainly going to be less hassle then messing around with a sandblaster. After its clean scrub it down, pickle it with some phosphoric acid, and paint it and you'll know there's not a speck of rust under it.

Removing it is pretty easy...yey skid steer quick attach. With it off I can still use the machine with the pallet forks while this sits and cooks.

I think I am going to try it. I don't see much to lose.

ac

 

[CowwFace]

Hey AVC,

This sounds like a good project for Before and After Pic's ... ?????!!!!!!

Tractor on

 

[Egon]

Some 6 mil poly could be used for a tank.

The phosphoric acid is a real good idea. Look it up on Google and do some reading.

If finding the acid becomes difficult use some of the cleaner dairies use for cleaning their lines. It's got Phosphoric acid in it.

 

[avc8130]

Some 6 mil poly could be used for a tank.

The phosphoric acid is a real good idea. Look it up on Google and do some reading.

If finding the acid becomes difficult use some of the cleaner dairies use for cleaning their lines. It's got Phosphoric acid in it.

The idea is to get away from needing a "tank". The only real rust that needs to be dealt with is IN the bucket so if I can get away with using the bucket itself as the tank it would be perfect.

I'll keep the dairy cleaner in mind.

ac

 

[jimgerken]

Yea, that will work. You will have to reverse the usual polarity. The "tank" in this case is the bucket, so if I am correct you will have to put the black or negative lead on the bucket, and positive on the hanging rod sacrificial electrodes. I am attaching a photo of my corn planter press roller rim in the process. The part is connected to the negative.
No matter how clean you get it, and a nice paint job you put on it, it will eventually be bare polished metal if you use it for a while. But its a fun project anyway.

 

[Egon]

No matter how clean you get it, and a nice paint job you put on it, it will eventually be bare polished metal if you use it for a while.

That is for sure. Moving gravel around would make it shiny.:thumbsup::thumbsup: