When you said you wondered what kind of history this axe had, all I could think about was the old limerick about Lizzy Borden. Can't get it outa my head.
That's awesome. Always feel like there is some kind of connection with those who have gone before when you find an old tool like that, even better when it's from family.
Yes, yes, yes. I cannot pick up any of the old tools in my shop whithout at least wondering about those who used them before me. The very epitome of a touchstone.
I found a tub of Oxiclean that had lost t's top and absorbed enough water it's a solid block. Not very handy for laundry use, but now I know its special purpose. I have a garage full of rusted tools and not a few plastic buckets. I'm going to be a hydrogen farmer! Love the practical science Zack, keep 'em coming'!
I came here to learn about removing brake rust from the wheels on my vehicle and now I am texting my friends asking for an Axe collector's guide for Christmas! Sheesh, you are a great speaker!
Mr. Chickadee is a fantastic RU-vid channel. I have been watching his videos for a while now as they progressed right from the foundation for both their house and the workshop. Good for you for helping to promote other great channels.
Does this mean you watched it twice? lol, I'm not sure what rabbit trail you followed to get from makeup to here but make sure to share with anyone else who likes makeup, maybe they'll like it too. Thanks a bunch for watching my video :)
"I'm gonna put this on 6 volts - no I'm not!" Very entertaining and informative. Thank you so very much for explaining this process. I've seen other videos but they don't tell you what they're using or what they're doing to exact the results that you did. Thank you once again!
I agree with rlm98253! I’ve watched at least a few good Electrolysis videos and not one of them mentioned anything about it giving off Hydrogen or the possibility of creating Chlorine if salt was used. Thank you for that critical chemistry lesson! You’re a great teacher and great at instructional videos! Very clearly spoken and great attention to detail. You should definitely keep making videos like this.
That was cool. My dad used to teach industrial arts (tech. ed. for you younger folk). He used to plate things with electrolysis. He never showed me this though. I think he would have liked this video for his old car parts.
Time is: 26/6/2023 8:08am --> I really like your video, your sense of humor and how you explain things. I also like that you are using things most people have. Thank you again.
I had to go back and re watch it to see for myself and I must say, it is a bit relaxing in an unconventional sort of way. Regardless of why you enjoyed it, I'm really glad you did!
Enjoyed learning something new ! Thanks ! Watched the entire 12 min vid in about 90 seconds by stepping forward from salient point to salient point, got the entire gist, INCLUDING "don't use salt ... " and am very happy with the result ! All the VERY BEST to all, from Texas - Chuck.
I have not done electrical rust removal yet, that's why I am watching these videos. This by far was the best. The anode size, a good electrical connection, current flow direction, was lacking or (wrong) in the other videos. As an electrician this was right on, and what I told myself to do before i saw this video. When I do this process I want to try tap water vs distilled water just to see if there any difference. I also like the Oxyclean for some reason. GOOD JOB!
I really like how you said you will start from scratch with your own story, I feel kinda the same when I find tools of my grandfather's and restore them myself. I like to imagine my grandkids 70 years from now thinking the same thing when the find the tools I've used from my grandfather
I absolutely agree, there's something about artifacts left behind by someone that are just a little enigmatic without knowing the story. I plan to leave my progeny lots of artifacts without full stories whenever I'm called home.
One important thing not mentioned, immediately after your item is de-gooped and rinsed, it will start to just. Be sure to use a rust preventative appropriate to your item (food use, not for food). All raw steel is unprotected and will rust like the sickens right before your eyes. This process works well for cast iron pans, any non-stainless, carbon steel item. Using a larger charger (40 amps, etc.) Is desirable or it will kill your charger pretty quickly. Especially for lager items like a cast fry pan. Small charger, clamps, etc. and things wear out fast. Arm and Hammer "washing powder," specifically, works best. About a half cup per gallon of water and is carried in many standard grocery stores, etc. If you have to go buy something, buy that. And he's right about the hydrogen, do NOT do this in a small, unventilated area. Garage is best. Use fans, open windows.
I found an old plumb axehead a few years ago and soaked it in vinegar for days and days and finally used a sander and layered it with gold foil flakes. Good grief! I wish I’d known what you so kindly demonstrated. Your video is excellent and informative. I am now a keen subscriber.
Your a man after my own heart! Restoring axes and tools, Kukuri hanging on the wall. 😉👍 Thanks for explaining the electrolysis set up so simply too. will be using it on my next restoration, which with any luck will be an old adze I'm trying to acquire.
I open trees logs and firewood with my Himalayan Imports AK Khukuri. The Cold Steels would..."open"...home invaders...LOL! Great tool! And I love me some Oxi Clean BTW!! Great video!!
Thanks for the education! I was looking for another rust removal system (besides a vinegar/salt/water solution) for some antique Stanley hand planes. I guess you can learn something new every day.
I could fill the page with superlatives about your video. Articulate, well paced, enough humour to raise the odd chuckle, enough cautions to be relevant, a very considered delivery. Oh and buggr me if it didn't do exactly what I need it to do. I restore/renovate old/vintage pushbikes (well to some effect but not great) and rust is always the starting point, this has shaken my paradigm on rust clearing. Gone will the be days of wire wheel shards sticking out from every surface in my environment, some of those surfaces belonging to me. Gone will be the mild anxiety associated with wire brushing off all the makers brand stampings. Gone will be the hours spent droning away at the wheel and trying to find creative ways to position the item to brush 'that' point on the item and avoid the guard, body, bench top, and still come up with a partial rust removal that needs to be followed up with a welders wire brushing or dremmeling. Sir, I salute you.
First of all thank you I’ve learned a new way to remove rust. I just want to point out that vinegar works the same way without all the other stuff. Great video
The advantage of electrolysis is that no original metal is removed; oxygen is just pulled out of the rust, leaving the iron intact and the process stops when the oxygen is all gone. The acid in the vinegar, on the other hand, will eat away some of the iron as well as the rust. If left too long, the acid can completely dissolve the object. I have learned this by my own experience.
Thank you for the shout out to Mr. Chickadee, I’m subscribed to their channel too. Awesome, amazing work he does.i think now he’s also teaching classes.
Man, I thought I was super original when I played around with the idea of posting vids under the name Zak of all trades. Love the channel and the detailed explanations.
Great find! I've removed very difficult rust by soaking in CLR for a couple of days, a bit of a wire brushing, wash in water, then spray with WD40, wipe off & done...just saying. The great thing about CLR also, is that when you're done, strain out all the junk & put it back into the container - good to go again & again...
Greetings from the Ohio Porters. 😎 I enjoyed this for more reasons than 1. The axe is one I’ve not heard of, It belonged to your grandfather, And it was rusted but not too bad & worth saving! 🤩 I love old tools and have sever things that belonged to my dad who was born in early 1900s. I’ve used several methods to clean, derustify and salvage them. This is one I’ve NOT used. Thanks. Good stuff.
I have used vinegar to remove rust from tools that I was restoring and noted your video. Great combination of electrolysis and oxyclean. I will need to try this soon. Intrestingly, I have been plauged with rust stains from my well water in my fiberglass shower insert. I dampened the base of the shower and distributed alot of oxy clean and made a slurry that I let sit for some time. Occassionally scrubbing with a sponge floor mop and allowing to sit removed the rust stains completely. I did not rinse off until I was sure the rust spots were gone. It went from orange to pure white in less than an hour. Great stuff.
I stripped all the paint off the grinder and gave it a new coat . Everybody knows Hobart makes all kinds of appliances like mixers and grinders and they last forever. Just clean up the pan is all I have to restore and I have a great piece of equipment. Only paid 225 dollars for it . Thank you sir I found your video very helpful !!
3:25 that piece of metal (before the handle was broken off) was used to hold the handle in place. Over time with use, the handle would become loose and you can hammer another wedge into the top to act as a shim.
It's amazing how this is the same process for anodizing Ti except anodizing requires higher voltage. Anodizing you're applying oxidation on the item, here you're removing it. Science is cool!
You should oil the axe head after washing off the oxyclean to keep rust away. Rust, albeit light surface rusting, will start right back up again on uncoated steel after the electrolysis and cleaning is completed.
Really cool. My mothers husband passed 15 years ago. Last week she gave me his huge Snap On box. The drawers were stuck and needed work. A little solvent and graphite was an easy fix. However the box is full of Snap On tools. Keep in mind the box has set in a garage for 15 years to 18 years. Not a total isolation from the elements. About 1/3 of the tools have lots of rust. The worst are the plier set , adjustable wrench set and lots of the tap and die tools. Snap On has a life warranty BUT not against rust. I was using a brass brush on my bench grinder. I plan to set your gadget up tomorrow. Thank You
Thanks for the tip, Oxy Clean is quite versatile and you just showed us yet another use for it. Also, Mr. Chickadee's channel IS cool, stumbled on one of his vids and now I'm hooked
I just want to say this was my first time comming across any of your video's👌I can say without a doubt its single-handedly further Peaked my endless Quest for knowledge in the many Paths of this wonderful D.I.Y universe.. 🤔💪Thank You for taking the time to share U R the man!!
Excellent video dude, just subscribed, I do magnet fishing and am going to try this on some of the items I find. Cheers all the way from Manchester UK. 👍🇬🇧
This is the first time I have seen your sight. Very nice. As far as Mr. Chicadee, I have seen every of their videos about a dozen times. It is adictive and very relaxing. I will have keep looking for your videos?
Just found your channel and Subbed. Love learning all kinds of stuff, and love watching folks work with their hands. Thanks for the recommendation on Mr Chickadee. I had already found his channel and absolutely love it. He did eventually do a video where he answered questions from his viewers.
I never realized that electrolysis rust removal was so hard! 😁😁😁 I have everything that you used in your video. It now makes my coffee drinking habit worthwhile! Thanks tons!
Also probably good idea to not not to use galvanized either. More bad stuff is released. Love restoring old tools especially if they have sentimental value. Thanks for video coffee was can was good idea!
RANDOMLY found this video and I'd like to thank you for making this. I'm gonna try this to see if I can get some rust off some of my ratcheting wrenches!
WOW. This was the best video I've seen about electrolysis. I especially appreciate your explanation of sodium carbonate, sodium bicarbonate and sodium percarbonate use in making the solution conductive. 😃
My dad was an avid woodworker/craftsman in his spare time. The totem pole he made is still in my mom's basement, along with the remaining hand-made canes he created (he must have GIVEN away over 50 to relatives, church friends, co-workers, & neighbors). I'd love to know about the material composition of the parts used to securely fasten the axe head as I have an axe head to clean, as well as many other steel tools that I inherited upon his passing. I don't just want to grind them down if less grinding is necessary due to this process. Thanks in advance for any further info you can provide.
Hey Scott, as long as it's steel this process will completely clean off the rust, the only reason you would need to grind or sand is if the metal is pitted. I'm sorry but I'm not very educated on alloys and how they respond to electrolysis, i'd expect it all to be steel when it comes to axes and tools.
Alot of guys using common sense would have the anode as the object to lift off the rust better but this causes pitting and destroys the object being cleaned. You tried to steel plate a piece of steel so the bubbles just removed rust but not metal. This is a great DIY video. Thanks.
OxiClean is an oxidizer also known as sodium peroxyhydrate 25 to 35% hydrogen peroxide the balance being baking soda you can buy the stuff in 50-lb bags technical grade the stuff in the store is weak and has fillers I believe the company is Cam 1 in Houston who imported they get it in on pallets
well I guess my day is done,cause I learnt something new! I have a bunch of tools that some how rusted up, and was wondering how to clean them, wire brush was what i came up with, but this is so much easier! Thanks for the share. Knowledge is power!
If you do not treat the metal piece after the electrolysis, it will flash rust. That process starts almost immediately if the metal is not treated. It is microscopic at first, but spreads. Me, I do not use the same type of battery charger when I do electrolysis. I have used this technique for years in cleaning car parts of everything from Model A Fords to '42 Chevies. Your bucket is a bit small. I have even used this process by using a cheap kiddie pool and it works well with larger pieces, too. However, you always want to be careful that the parts do not puncture the plastic. It is safe to pour the sludge on a flower bed, but not on a veggie garden when done. Me, I like Arm wash soda and Hammer better than Oxiclean, but I am an old dog and resistant to change. Your going to have to search high and low to find any real cases of someone actually killing or harming themselves by electrolysis fumes. I do my work outside to begin with though, so ventilation is always adequate..
Thank you for the comment, I hosed it down with water and hit it with a light coat of oil and it's still rust free today. I like the Idea of a kiddie pool.
Good to know that the sludge can be recycled in the garden, not just poured down a drain, thanks. Does anyone know if the sludge will be acidic or alkaline? Thus informing what kind of flowers/bushes it's best to use on.
@@mikeeagle2653 It may etch it but I wouldn't call it rusting. That is the exposure of air and water to the metal creating iron oxides. The acetic acid in vinegar should convert the rust to ferric/ferrous acetate I believe. You would still need to place the axe head in into baking soda bath afterwards, to neutralise the acidity.
bitTorrenter Heat the metal with a hairdryer or and little propane touch spray with vinger and it will start rusting before your eyes. I’ve been doing it for 20 years.
Back when they still made coffee cans out of metal. Good old days. Someone tell Maxwell house that I only stopped drinking their shitty coffee because they stopped selling it in useful cans.
@@terrymccorkle1674 Are you American? Because I don't recognize the brand. I'm from Ontario Canada. Most of the stores just have a brand called Selection, Folgers, and Maxwell House. There are a few others but they all come in the plastic. Which is totally good for paint. But this is another good use. Easy enough to find scrap metal though. To be honest. If they are saving the environment by reducing energy demands and costs; I'm just going to sit here and enjoy my crow.
@@brendanwood1540 Yes I am. It's Brookshire brothers store brand. They also own super one stores. Don't know whether they are nation wide or not but you can order online from them I think. And it's good coffee.
@@terrymccorkle1674 Maybe worth a shot then; though I'm picky about my coffee taste; won't hold it against you. For now I've found myself with a surplus of scrap steel sheet metal, not enough big hard steel chunks to take the rust off of. I gotta reconfigure the air supply on my makeshift forge. The fan is just way too powerful on the lowest setting of the potentiometer. Gotta divert some of the air. For now it's a more effective metal rapid oxidizer.
@@brendanwood1540 I used to drink folgers all the time but when they changed the blend I had to change. This tastes more like the old folgers and I love it
I appreciate learning about the electrolysis. I've never tried it because well number one just never got to the place where I actually had a reason to. But I've known about it, heard about it. Just never understood all of the little details. I learned a little more today from watching your video. Thanks!
FYI, the piece of metal you found in the old piece of handle is a wedge. The hole in the tool head (axe, mattock, hammer, etc.) for the handle, is slightly flared at the top, and after it is driven onto the wooden handle, the wedge is driven into the wood to expand it into the flare and hold the tool head on.
I'm pretty confident that the channel owner understands how axes are hung and what a wedge is. Typically there's a wooden wedge parallel to the head of the axe, then one or more smaller metal wedges perpendicular or on a slant hammered into the wooden wedge. This axe just had a jagged scrap metal chunk alone. It was a careless rush job originally. Which is perfectly fine if that's all the task calls for. My habit when I have a similar tool with a loose head that isn't a huge value to me or the handle is half shot but not entirely done is to throw a few nails in there. It works for another six months. I wouldn't be surprised if a responsible craftsman with good habits found it later and shook their head at the sloppy job. I can hang an axe very well if it's a gift, I'm doing it as a favor, or if it's one I value a lot or intend to use frequently but I'll also slap crap together if it's a cheap tool I plan to be able to leave outside or use improperly anyway.
That dark patina is gorgeous. Keep it oiled and it'll last 100's, even 1000's of years! Hats off for not grinding and buffing it all shiny. This was restoration.
very very informative. Watched many videos of people using this technique but never had anyone explain it before. Will be using this method right away on some antique tools.
