[TheForge] Woop! RR Spikes, stage 2.

[Dave Belfer-Shevett]

So after some good mail and pointers on the list, I decided to sit down
and try to use the electrolysis method to get some of these spikes prepped
for working.

I used a 4gallon plastic bucket, which I filled to the brim with tap
water.  Rummaging in the kitchen got me the requisite baking soda, which I
dumped into the water with about a 'shooka's worth of soda.  I'd call it
perhaps a quarter cup, which seemed about right.  Using a fiberglass rod I
had, I mixed things up a bit, and set it on the driveway.

I have a HEEYOGE iron C-clamp which is really useful for nothing except
silly steve martin jokes, so settling that into the water and holding it
in place made a perfectly good anode, and it wasn't going anywhere.  I
took one of the spikes and did a brisk rubdown on it with a heavy wire
brush to get most of the dirt and loose rust off it, put itt into the
negative clamp from the battery charger, and settled it into the water
about an inch from where the C-clamp was in place.

I clamped on the positive line from the charger to the C-clamp, and,
making sure things were all set and doing a silent prayer, flipped the
switch onto '12v low' on our big honkin charger.

Nohting happened initially, but after about 30 seconds, I noticed bubbles
coming up around the spike.  Score!!!  Flipping the charger over to '12v
high' seemed to radically increase the action in the water, and seeing no
circuit breakers popping and no waves of heat coming off the charger, I
let it go.

I of course couldn't leave well enough alone, so I kept peeking at the
spike, indeed, there was a definate black patina on the spike, and the
water was turning an UNGODLY color as bits of rust and yuck veritably flew
off the spike.

Total time in the water turned out to be about 2 1/2-3 hours (this was a
HEAVILY encrusted spike).  I pulled it out, went inside and used some
heavy-duty scouring steel on the spike, and watched the black crud flow
down the drain.

Lo and behold, shiny steel!  Its not completely clean, but it is
definately that lovely mix of dull shiny grey and black.  Whadya know, it
works!

I need to rig a hanging harness so I can put the entire spike underwater,
so I dont have to do the "work one end, then work the other" - this'll
probably just be a heavy duty copper loop I can lop over the edge of the
bucket.

Thanks to everyone on the list, I'll do some before/after pictures soon as
I get my camera working again.

My wife is already lining up waiting for work.  "So.  Are these big enough
to make the S hooks you've been promising since last summer?" "You
betcha!"

	-dbs

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Dave Belfer-Shevett\ KB1FWR \
www.homeport.org    >--------`------------------------------------
shevett@pobox.com  /  1. "You know, this would be a lot more fun  \
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