[TheForge] Re: Free the Stake!

[GRAF]

I am just guessing here.
I'd probably not use the phosphoric for separating the pieces.
Like Andy says it probably will leave a phosphate finish, which takes up 
space, which is counterproductive when trying to separate things wedged 
together.
I'd stay with something that dissolves the rust PB blaster or the HCL 
and will keep it in solution while freeing things up is in progress.
The phosphoric sounds like a good idea once you have two pieces.

Mike Graf

Andrew Vida wrote:
>
>
> 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?
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