Off The Hook: Using Oxalic Acid to Remove Rust From El Camino Bed Hooks

[78Delta88]

This one is 30 volt 10 Amp.

 

[SoFloG]

That's sufficient for anything I'd need it for. Great tool to have on the workbench not to mention the cool projects and experiments to be had

 

[78Delta88]

You tube will show using a 12volt battery, which is not correct. Gold and Silver need low volts but high amps. Not sure on copper or nickel so will be bit of a learning curve.

 

[78Delta88]

Played around with it a bit last night. Just used Himalayan pink salt in solution. Pulls a little gold, but then copper and some other. Ended up with a dark grey plating, possibly manganese, not sure, didn't polish yet. Just used a nickel for electrode and SS for anode. Just ran 2.6 volts at about 1.8 amps.

Clips are just cheap China made so one already decided to dissolve. I have others to replace them.

 

[Sweet_Johnny]

Played around with it a bit last night. Just used Himalayan pink salt in solution.

I'm unfamiliar with the process- you added the salt to a mix of copper sulfate and sulfuric acid? I'd love to see a full thread on your setup and the results of a few small items. The headers you spoke of intrigue me as well.

If I sent you my cargo hooks would I need to physically remove any and all remaining black oxide first, or will plating stick? I imagine the best way would be a small wire wheel on a Dremel- trying to sand in the holes would be difficult.

 

[78Delta88]

Not sure. Would have to do a trial.

On the trial last night, just ran the salt in water.

 

[78Delta88]

Just put the salt in water and let sit, the minerals drop out.

It's a hodgepodge mix. Last night I just did a quick sloppy test, just curious what it would pull.

Two things to follow up, will do later this week.

Filter off the minerals, flux up and put in crucible, get back to solid metal.

From there put in nitric and hydrochloric acid see what happens.

Classically the plan is copper sulfate, then nickel. From there you should be able to plate the tungsten/titanium or palladium or silver or...

 

[78Delta88]

Pictures don't do justice but on the base of the hair on the pony tail it's plated with tinge of gold. On the D emboss and far right edge of the Monticello you can see some more gold. The Himalayan salts carry a little gold with copper and other minerals. Definitely not enough to get rich, I wouldn't quit day job.

But for plating and the inconsistencies in minerals, gives a different patina each time.

 

[Sweet_Johnny]

That's pretty cool. What do you think is the best thing to plate the cargo hooks with using that rig?

 

[78Delta88]

Where did you find your hooks? I can look at yard and or eBay, pick some up use as trials first. From there just let me know coating you wish to use.