electrolyisis rust removal on a straight razor?

so my dad has this big electrolysis vat in the basement that he uses for pulling rust off of tools he buys at auctions. it does a damn good job, but I don't know if it is suitable for straight razors.

I'd have to ask for sure to remember how it works, but I'll outline the basics. You make a solution of washing soda (basic, I think - as opposed to acidic) and then attach a positive lead to your piece and a negative lead to an anode in the solution (could be the other way around) The electrical current and the solution pull the rust off the piece and onto the anode.

would this work on a straight razor for rust removal?

You might want to read this thread: http://straightrazorpalace.com/works...ctrolysis.html
You can just read this post if you're short on time: http://straightrazorpalace.com/works...tml#post209743

There are a few other threads on it as well. Basically, a few guys have done it, but the results were less than stellar.
There will be oxidation to sand off after the electrolysis, and it still doesn't do anything about the pitting.

I tried it. I used a battery charger for a power source. WAY too much amperage. Basically, burned up the razor - it was a complete junker, so no loss. If you try it, use a very low power battery for a power source. Possibly a little 9 volt? Don't try it on anything but a junk blade. The process is great for old hand tools, but my experience was not for razors.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by HNSB

You might want to read this thread: http://straightrazorpalace.com/works...ctrolysis.html
You can just read this post if you're short on time: http://straightrazorpalace.com/works...tml#post209743

There are a few other threads on it as well. Basically, a few guys have done it, but the results were less than stellar.
There will be oxidation to sand off after the electrolysis, and it still doesn't do anything about the pitting.

---

I must have mis-typed it in the search bar, cuz I didn't find anything.

I kinda figured this would be the result.

The word Electroloysis in the above post is a link, just click on it.
Grant

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by baldy

The word Electroloysis in the above post is a link, just click on it.
Grant

---

I did. I meant that when I searched before starting this thread, I must have mistyped it and that I thought the results would be "don't do it."

I'm sure that in some circumstances it will work very well. But why? There are chemical rust removers which will work just as well on an item this size. They will leave the pitting to be sanded away, and there is a possibility of a slightly roughened finish, so you have to watch them keenly in action. But this applies to electrolysis too, and especially to improvised methods of electrolysis.

As has been said, too much current can pit the steel on its own. I think it will be like plating, in which what counts is the ratio of current supplied, to surface area of the workpiece. A razor is a lot smaller than most tools.

While I don't have any scientific basis for this, I would be very wary - not just a little, but very - of different metals in a conducting solution, especially when electricity is supplied. If you do try this, the razor should be hung on steel wire, in a plastic, enamelled or glass vessel.