[TheForge] Re: Free the Stake!

[Peter Hirst]

The ultrasonic technology is fascinating, but how practical a suggestion is 
it?  How might   get one or get access to one?  What kind of amplitude am I 
looking at for the parts I am dealing with?  This isn't exactly jewelry 
cleaning here.  I am dealing with about 250 pounds of iron and a rust-joined 
surface area of about 12 square inches, buried in a 4" thick joint.  Picture 
a 2" diameter bolt screwed in 4" deep and left to rust for years.

PGH
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Andrew Vida" <osan at netlabs.net>
To: <mspencer at tallships.ca>; "Sponsored by ABANA" <theforge at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Sunday, January 20, 2008 12:03 PM
Subject: Re: [TheForge] Re: Free the Stake!


>
>
> 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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