[TheForge] Re: Free the Stake!

[Andrew Vida]

Mike Spencer wrote:
>> I wonder what an ultrasonic driver combined with electrolytic 
>> cleaning would do?...pf
> 
> I once prevailed upon a museum friend to agree that his lab might *just
> possibly* be willing to ultrasonically clean something for me.  Then I
> learned that their sonicator was a water tank something like 3"x3"x10".
> 
> I haven't kept up so I dunno if bigger and more powerful units are now
> commonplace or not.

	They have been for decades.  When I worked as a pattern maker in 
college, the casting houses (jewelry) all had large, high amplitude 
ultrasonic cleaners.  These units were impressive, especially when by 
accident your hand would go into the water. :)
> 
> I find that electrolysis in warm, dilute phosphoric acid goes faster
> than bicarbonate, is less noxious than than HCl and leaves the iron
> surface in a more stable -- more rust-resistant -- state.

	Probably leaves  phosphate finish, no?