Tank Rust

[sparki]

ribble can clean out a tank and not remove the paint... they've done it on one of mine where the rust inside was completely cleaned out and the paint on the outside was completely intact.... dunno if thats a new thing but they did mine a few years (or there a bouts) ago now...

[spondonchris]

Nicky, glad you asked the question as I was also wondering how to clean a couple of tanks out! Had been told that the electrolysis method works well by a couple of people. Let me know if it works in the end

[Nicky Dodds]

Hi Chris, tbh i'm having mixed feelings somewhat towards this method. When I first looked in the tank there wasn't a great mass of rust just random rusty scars with the odd small patch along with some paint overspray and evidence of welding (bearing in mind only one side of the tank is visible)
Anyway it's been running since sunday and there's times when I think it's working and times when I think I shouldn't have bothered.
Even when I think it's working the solution is that cloudy it's impossible to monitor any results other than any rusty scum floating around in the tank neck. I was getting regular deposits on the steel bar I'm using as the electrode but these weren't always rust coloured, more often black or like a limescale deposit if that makes sense.
It bugged me that much that I emptied the lot out just so I could have a look and there was no 'red' rust evident just the overspray and some black marks which could have been rust to start with???
So a new solution was mixed and tank re-filled and re-started....more black deposits, more 'limescale', and occasional rusty scum. We're at the stage where it looks like it's stopped working again and am thinking is this rusty scum just being generated by my 'electrode'?
Everthing has stopped fizzing, there's no register on the meter and the electrolyte just looks like dishwater mixed with porridge!
Am thinking of sacking it and running with it...

[johnr]

the easiest way to make it work is to help the water to circulate round the tank using a windscreen washer pump to keep the water moving. or if its not too bad, seal it over the rust.

[Nicky Dodds]

Hi John, you may indeed have a valid point there as the flakes of whatever they are actually make the solution denser I suppose therefore inhibiting any natural flow instigated by the chemical reaction.
Another concern is that sources elsewhere have stated that it works on a line of sight basis....which would mean that any tank cleaned this way would have blind spots that remain untreated. A big kat tank with an offset filler wouldn't be the easiest of tasks.
This flaky stuff floating around....is it possible i've overdone it with the soda crystals?

[bobster]

Ive already told you to use a piece of copper instead of the piece of steel you are using, as it will itself be rusting.........

I used a piece of 22mm Copper tubing with electrical tape applied where it was incontact with the tank!

[Nicky Dodds]

Hi Bobster, I did try the copper tubing but it didn't work at all for some reason

[Katman]

How do you use a cement mixer to clean the rust out?
I have one

[callyboy]

You strap a pillow or something onto the mixer and the strap the tank to it. Fill it will nuts and bolts and stuff and then seal it up and turn it on

Pete

[johnr]

leave the tap on chuck in boiling water some fairy liquid and a length of galvanized steel chain. wrap it in bubble wrap, then cardboard. nice and tight, then pop it in the drum of a cement mixer for a few hours, stopping every half hour to take it out and invert it then shove it back in the other way. of course you could just stand there shaking it for 4 hours to dislodge the rust, but the mixer fair makes it easier. afterwards, rinse with a hosepipe then blow out with a hoover set to blow. done several like this.