I love the way a lye tank is just "set it and forget it." I can throw pieces in the lye tank, leave them there for weeks or months, then pull them out when I feel like cleaning them. And that's when the E-tank comes in.
I use lye in my electrolysis tank. It takes care of both issues at the same time. The lie loosens the organics and also acts as the electrolyte to remove the rust. Works great, but using a well ventilated area.
You are absolutely welcome. Thank you for sharing it in the Cast Iron Cookware Facebook group. I believe that it is very helpful for those who are planing their first setup.
My wife and I are empty nesters meaning we have two bathrooms that aren't needed. I set an e-tank up in one of the tubs so I can pull the shower curtain and it disappears. When in use I leave the curtain partially open and set the battery charger on the heating & air vent with the unit fan on. That provides plenty of ventilation to the room and cooling to the charger. I scrub them in the utility room next door so it doesn't make a mess all through the house.
Great video! Good tips for an e.tank. I don’t have the right set up for an e-tank but I love my lye tank and I finish my pieces off with a vinegar bath. For now it works well. If I could find an area where it is safe and well ventilated I wouldn’t hesitate to put an e-tank together. I like all the photos at the end of your video as they provide a lot of ideas.
All of those photos were added from the membership of the Cast Iron Cookware Facebook group. They are a great group of people. I even use one of their pictures for the thumbnail.
@@castIroncookware That is interesting to know! Hey, I just ordered a couple of Easy Beezy sticks from you as well. I got an email that stated you sent them out this morning. I can hardly wait to try them. A friend of mine says they have a bit more sheen to them than Buzzywaxx. I am going to do a pop over pan that a friend sent to me and need something like this to season down in the cups. He didn't want to tackle it and thinks I should! lol Can you give me the link to your facebook group? I'd like to join and if you ever have any other related information, you can reach me at ladylibertystacker@gmail.com. Thanks and have a Blessed Day!
I have actually had an idea that I'm going to take a decent size beverage cooler that has the wheels on it and line it with steel that way it will be so easy to drain the water out of the tank. That's the biggest pain of the whole process is that step of lugging the thing to the nearest disposal area and having to dump out the water
Pardon my necropost on an older video. I’m new to using electrolysis for rust remediation. I just started today. I didn’t have any sodium carbonate on hand but had plenty of lye. I’m using the lye as my electrolyte. Basically, I’m electrolyzing my lye bath. Any pitfalls I should be wary of in this method? So far it seems to be working great!
The main thing is the potential of getting burned and skin irritations. You might want to consider wearing safety glasses as well while working around it.
One thing we need to do is the "reverse E-tank:" when you take a really big cast iron pot and use the pot itself as one of the anode. Clamp the black (negative) lead to the side of the tank itself, hang the sacrificial red (positive) node into the center of the tank and *don't* touch the bottom or side, and fill the pot with your water and electrolyte solution.
I agree. I have been watching both of you guys' videos for the last 1 1/2 yrs and have really enjoyed them. Have learned tons about this new hobby. I have a plastic tub e-tank that is wide enough for a #12 dutch oven and then I suspend a small steel bracket in the center so both inside and outside get cleaned at the same time. Keep up the good work both of you!
@@castIroncookware got 2 recent videos and 3rd on it's way. Recent finds. Your bar video helped me identify good old handy dan. And other stuff in coming up video.
Nice video (again!) The point about "organics" vs "rust" removal is an important one. I use a similar "shortcut" like you described, but instead of lye tank I use Easy Off. I put the sprayed CI in a tub first (with lid.) Then to E-tank after a few days. Shortens the tank time needed. Just one more technique. Thanks for what you do.
Yes, the easy off oven spray works great. The active ingredient in the is your oven cleaner is lye. A lot of people use the easy off oven cleaner method in a plastic bag. I never thought about putting it in a tub with a lid on it. You should get the same results. Good to know. Thank you for sharing.
@@castIroncookware i recently picked up a couple hundred pieces... so a plastic stirage bin with lid let me spray and seal up about 20 at a time! Caution: put the tub on a roller dolly first! Can't begin to pick it up when full!
OK, how about the 3rd option, Self Cleaning Oven Method? Thanks. I did a few pieces of cast iron this weekend. One in my newly made electrolysis tank, and 4 in the oven. The oven was much quicker, considering I popped all 4 pieces out in an afternoon. The electrolysis tank is still working on the original piece. However, the electrolysis pan looks much cleaner. The oven method pieces were.... good enough to start seasoning.
Were you able to get out to the World's Longest Yard Sale two weeks ago? I was able to get a couple of Favorite skillets. Both are now in the lye tank.
Never heard of using lye. When I started with removing rust from things, it was just a bucket filled with a 25/75 water/hydrochloric mix. I don't think you can get a quicker way to remove rust from something than that......or more hazardous, lol.
I would add that when using a battery charger you should hook it to a battery first. Then wire the battery to the e tank. This will provide a more stable DC current. Esp if the charger isn't the best. The future is in laser cleaning, but thats 10 years off. What takes hours today will take minutes. Right now it's just to pricey.
I am not sure because I have never had it to happen. I am sure that they super washing soda may make it to be a little lower than just the freezing point of water.
I am brand new to your channel and only recently got my first piece of cast iron. It's a skillet that my friend gave me. It has a very hard, black crusty build up around the edges on the bottom. Am I to understand from your videos that only a lye treatment or electrolysis treatment can remove that type of build up?
We have had a few complications but we are back on track again now. The day job tends to drain my energy more because we are so short handed because of the virus. I'm really hoping to get back to putting out a video each week.
Google is your friend. Electrolysis is done in grade school early on(at least that's when I learned) I'm sure you're able to complete this juvenile task. Electrolysis is child science.
Automatic chargers will sense a voltage present before beginning a charging cycle. If the battery is dead, the charger will not sense a battery and will not activate. I jumpstart my E-tank by temporarily connecting a battery and then the charger to the cast iron. After the bubbles begin forming I disconnect the battery.
Your descriptions are great, however, your videos would be a million times better if you would actually show how you use your equipment. Just saying :-)
I love the way a lye tank is just "set it and forget it." I can throw pieces in the lye tank, leave them there for weeks or months, then pull them out when I feel like cleaning them. And that's when the E-tank comes in.
I use lye in my electrolysis tank. It takes care of both issues at the same time. The lie loosens the organics and also acts as the electrolyte to remove the rust. Works great, but using a well ventilated area.
Thank you for including my E-Tank in the slideshow!
You are absolutely welcome. Thank you for sharing it in the Cast Iron Cookware Facebook group. I believe that it is very helpful for those who are planing their first setup.
Good to see you again. I was beginning to wonder if you were OK.
We have had a few complications but we are back on track now.
My wife and I are empty nesters meaning we have two bathrooms that aren't needed. I set an e-tank up in one of the tubs so I can pull the shower curtain and it disappears. When in use I leave the curtain partially open and set the battery charger on the heating & air vent with the unit fan on. That provides plenty of ventilation to the room and cooling to the charger. I scrub them in the utility room next door so it doesn't make a mess all through the house.
That is awesome!
Great video! Good tips for an e.tank. I don’t have the right set up for an e-tank but I love my lye tank and I finish my pieces off with a vinegar bath. For now it works well. If I could find an area where it is safe and well ventilated I wouldn’t hesitate to put an e-tank together. I like all the photos at the end of your video as they provide a lot of ideas.
All of those photos were added from the membership of the Cast Iron Cookware Facebook group. They are a great group of people. I even use one of their pictures for the thumbnail.
@@castIroncookware That is interesting to know! Hey, I just ordered a couple of Easy Beezy sticks from you as well. I got an email that stated you sent them out this morning. I can hardly wait to try them. A friend of mine says they have a bit more sheen to them than Buzzywaxx. I am going to do a pop over pan that a friend sent to me and need something like this to season down in the cups. He didn't want to tackle it and thinks I should! lol Can you give me the link to your facebook group? I'd like to join and if you ever have any other related information, you can reach me at ladylibertystacker@gmail.com. Thanks and have a Blessed Day!
You rock man! Good job on doing exactly what a teaching video should.
Thank you and thank you so much are watching.
I have actually had an idea that I'm going to take a decent size beverage cooler that has the wheels on it and line it with steel that way it will be so easy to drain the water out of the tank. That's the biggest pain of the whole process is that step of lugging the thing to the nearest disposal area and having to dump out the water
Awesome brother, thank you.
Pardon my necropost on an older video. I’m new to using electrolysis for rust remediation. I just started today. I didn’t have any sodium carbonate on hand but had plenty of lye. I’m using the lye as my electrolyte. Basically, I’m electrolyzing my lye bath. Any pitfalls I should be wary of in this method? So far it seems to be working great!
The main thing is the potential of getting burned and skin irritations. You might want to consider wearing safety glasses as well while working around it.
One thing we need to do is the "reverse E-tank:" when you take a really big cast iron pot and use the pot itself as one of the anode. Clamp the black (negative) lead to the side of the tank itself, hang the sacrificial red (positive) node into the center of the tank and *don't* touch the bottom or side, and fill the pot with your water and electrolyte solution.
That is a great technique. I have a friend that uses a wand with a nylon spacer that he uses for especially tight spots.
I agree. I have been watching both of you guys' videos for the last 1 1/2 yrs and have really enjoyed them. Have learned tons about this new hobby. I have a plastic tub e-tank that is wide enough for a #12 dutch oven and then I suspend a small steel bracket in the center so both inside and outside get cleaned at the same time. Keep up the good work both of you!
Nice video. Fyi you, ladylibertystacker and a few other channels have inspired me to go on the hunt and let the hobby pay for itself. Thank you.
Hunting and trading does keep the hobby going. It is a lot of fun too.
@@castIroncookware got 2 recent videos and 3rd on it's way. Recent finds. Your bar video helped me identify good old handy dan. And other stuff in coming up video.
Nice video (again!) The point about "organics" vs "rust" removal is an important one. I use a similar "shortcut" like you described, but instead of lye tank I use Easy Off. I put the sprayed CI in a tub first (with lid.) Then to E-tank after a few days. Shortens the tank time needed. Just one more technique. Thanks for what you do.
Yes, the easy off oven spray works great. The active ingredient in the is your oven cleaner is lye. A lot of people use the easy off oven cleaner method in a plastic bag. I never thought about putting it in a tub with a lid on it. You should get the same results. Good to know. Thank you for sharing.
@@castIroncookware i recently picked up a couple hundred pieces... so a plastic stirage bin with lid let me spray and seal up about 20 at a time! Caution: put the tub on a roller dolly first! Can't begin to pick it up when full!
Now have 2 lye spas! Only use EasyOff method for 1 or 2 pieces. Then everything goes to e-tank
A no 8 does fit in my 5 gallon bucket, I like using a stinger lye solution of 1.5lbs to 5 gallons of water.
Oh, that's why my etank is not doing as good, I used I cup of washing soda per 5 gallons of water instead of 10 gallons. Thanks for the information
It should still work at that solution but your power supply will have to work a little bit harder than it should.
I think I am going to need to build myself an Electrolysis Tank. Our son built a tiny one a few years ago but that was way to small for C.I. stuff.
The electronicist tank is by far the best way to strip cast iron.
Thank you for all your videos! Always love them and so informative!
You are absolutely welcome.
OK, how about the 3rd option, Self Cleaning Oven Method? Thanks. I did a few pieces of cast iron this weekend. One in my newly made electrolysis tank, and 4 in the oven. The oven was much quicker, considering I popped all 4 pieces out in an afternoon. The electrolysis tank is still working on the original piece. However, the electrolysis pan looks much cleaner. The oven method pieces were.... good enough to start seasoning.
There is just too much potential for damage using the self cleaning oven method for me to take a chance with it.
Were you able to get out to the World's Longest Yard Sale two weeks ago? I was able to get a couple of Favorite skillets. Both are now in the lye tank.
I was not able to make it to it this year.
Never heard of using lye. When I started with removing rust from things, it was just a bucket filled with a 25/75 water/hydrochloric mix. I don't think you can get a quicker way to remove rust from something than that......or more hazardous, lol.
I would add that when using a battery charger you should hook it to a battery first. Then wire the battery to the e tank. This will provide a more stable DC current. Esp if the charger isn't the best. The future is in laser cleaning, but thats 10 years off. What takes hours today will take minutes. Right now it's just to pricey.
I've seen those laser systems and they are really nice but as you said very expensive.
What do you think about sanding down a rough surface casting to get a smoother surface for seasoning or just build up a good seasoning layer instead?
I always try to stay away from anything that will modify the cast iron. A prefer allowing this seasoning to build-up the surface.
Do you know what temperature the electrolyte wlil freeze at?
I am not sure because I have never had it to happen. I am sure that they super washing soda may make it to be a little lower than just the freezing point of water.
I am brand new to your channel and only recently got my first piece of cast iron. It's a skillet that my friend gave me. It has a very hard, black crusty build up around the edges on the bottom. Am I to understand from your videos that only a lye treatment or electrolysis treatment can remove that type of build up?
Those are the only two safe methods that are widely used by cast iron collectors.
Glad to see you again. I was wondering if you were ok.
We have had a few complications but we are back on track again now. The day job tends to drain my energy more because we are so short handed because of the virus. I'm really hoping to get back to putting out a video each week.
Take care of yourself don’t push your self. We all want you to be in good health.
Asian scratch off pans make amazing sacrificial anodes!
Can I find someone to do this for me. I live in Hawaii Maui island. I don’t think I would attempt myself.
You may try asking around some of the antique malls in your area and find a collector that may be able to help.
Google is your friend. Electrolysis is done in grade school early on(at least that's when I learned) I'm sure you're able to complete this juvenile task. Electrolysis is child science.
What happens when you use an automatic charger?
They usually register a fault and shut down.
I heard if you have a dead junk battery. You can connect an automatic charger to it then attach lines to the tank and skillet
Automatic chargers will sense a voltage present before beginning a charging cycle. If the battery is dead, the charger will not sense a battery and will not activate. I jumpstart my E-tank by temporarily connecting a battery and then the charger to the cast iron. After the bubbles begin forming I disconnect the battery.
Your descriptions are great, however, your videos would be a million times better if you would actually show how you use your equipment. Just saying :-)
Check out DaveKnowsHow latest video on TH-cam, thanks for all your knowledge through the years!
You're welcome and thank you. I will definitely check that channel out.
You had me electrolysis systems but the icing was the bible verse
lost me at the religious stuff