The Cleaning of Blades

A. G. Maisey · 24th May 2018, 10:13 PM

David, I believe that from the perspective of the curation of highly valuable objects, that perhaps Fernando is correct in his claim that electrolysis is the only way to remove corrosion on ferric material without in some way affecting the material.

I have had people send me descriptions of how they have used this method, I have had discussions with a couple of museum curators on the pros and cons of using it, and I think that there was a lengthy discussion on its use in this Forum some years ago.

In short, I know about it, but I have never used it, and I doubt that I ever will.

Why would I not use such an apparently excellent method?

Simply because compared with the method I have used for more than 60 years it is too much trouble, and for the type of things I need to clean there is no material advantage.

If I needed to clean a very old, very valuable, very fragile, irreplaceable artifact, I would probably investigate the electrolysis method and consider using it. But for the type I things I need to clean, I consider this state of the art method to be unnecessary.

So I do not use it, for much the same reason that I do not use cabinet maker's tools to replace a paling in a fence:- it is overkill.

David · 24th May 2018, 10:23 PM

Understood Alan. Perhaps there is some greater discussion of the process under some other key words than "zinc-soda", but all i found when searching those terms was the brief mention of the process by Fernando with no details attached.
But i do agree that it is probably unnecessary for our purposes and overkill.

A. G. Maisey · 24th May 2018, 11:14 PM

I just used the Discussion Forums search facility and put in "electrolysis".

I got more than a few hits.

Here is the first one on my list of hits:-

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...t=electrolysis

Might be worth re-reading this thread if you have time. Ann Feuerbach I find interesting.

Fernando K · 25th May 2018, 01:08 AM

Hello everyone

On the method of electrolysis, the discussion link has already been uploaded in this forum

On the zinc soda method, the dissolution of caustic soda attacks zinc, forming zinc hydroxide and releasing hydrogen. The hydrogen, in the nascent state, attacks the metal oxide, and the oxygen starts, the dust remains of the original material.

Both have the advantage that they remove the oxide from the "caries" or caverns, which otherwise would have to be eliminated by the treatment of the surface, thus eliminating material.

Any acidic method that is used, such as acetic, while decomposing the oxide, simultaneously attack the non-oxidized metal, or the metallic base, once it has acted on the oxide.

Fernando K · 25th May 2018, 01:25 AM

https://archive.org/stream/blockader...0brig_djvu.txt

Hello

Here a text of the electrolysis and ultra-sons

Fernando K

24th May 2018, 10:13 PM	#1
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 6,989	David, I believe that from the perspective of the curation of highly valuable objects, that perhaps Fernando is correct in his claim that electrolysis is the only way to remove corrosion on ferric material without in some way affecting the material. I have had people send me descriptions of how they have used this method, I have had discussions with a couple of museum curators on the pros and cons of using it, and I think that there was a lengthy discussion on its use in this Forum some years ago. In short, I know about it, but I have never used it, and I doubt that I ever will. Why would I not use such an apparently excellent method? Simply because compared with the method I have used for more than 60 years it is too much trouble, and for the type of things I need to clean there is no material advantage. If I needed to clean a very old, very valuable, very fragile, irreplaceable artifact, I would probably investigate the electrolysis method and consider using it. But for the type I things I need to clean, I consider this state of the art method to be unnecessary. So I do not use it, for much the same reason that I do not use cabinet maker's tools to replace a paling in a fence:- it is overkill.

24th May 2018, 10:23 PM	#2
David Keris forum moderator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Nova Scotia Posts: 7,211	Understood Alan. Perhaps there is some greater discussion of the process under some other key words than "zinc-soda", but all i found when searching those terms was the brief mention of the process by Fernando with no details attached. But i do agree that it is probably unnecessary for our purposes and overkill.

24th May 2018, 11:14 PM	#3
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 6,989	I just used the Discussion Forums search facility and put in "electrolysis". I got more than a few hits. Here is the first one on my list of hits:- http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...t=electrolysis Might be worth re-reading this thread if you have time. Ann Feuerbach I find interesting.

25th May 2018, 01:08 AM	#4
Fernando K Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 671	Hello everyone On the method of electrolysis, the discussion link has already been uploaded in this forum On the zinc soda method, the dissolution of caustic soda attacks zinc, forming zinc hydroxide and releasing hydrogen. The hydrogen, in the nascent state, attacks the metal oxide, and the oxygen starts, the dust remains of the original material. Both have the advantage that they remove the oxide from the "caries" or caverns, which otherwise would have to be eliminated by the treatment of the surface, thus eliminating material. Any acidic method that is used, such as acetic, while decomposing the oxide, simultaneously attack the non-oxidized metal, or the metallic base, once it has acted on the oxide.

25th May 2018, 01:25 AM	#5
Fernando K Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 671	https://archive.org/stream/blockader...0brig_djvu.txt Hello Here a text of the electrolysis and ultra-sons Fernando K