I'm considering repainting my Enders 9061D as the case needs some remedial attention... not much but I want to stop the small amount of rust from getting any worse and beat out some small dents and gouges. The original paint surface is a hammerite-like silver which I've found a pretty good match for. All I really need to do is remove the tank but I can't see how you get the brass rivets(?) out that secure the tank in place. Once they're out I'm good to go as I'm not too bothered about the inside as it's in pretty good shape and I don't intend to touch it, just the outside. I don't plan on removing any of the aluminium rivets unless I really really have to. Unfortunately, the worst dent is directly under the tank and I can't work on it without access. An explanation or maybe even a photo would help me enormously! Also, on a separate point, I've heard about using electrolysis to strip cases... how does that work and how expensive is it?
@Colin Geer The tank’s not rivetted in place, the springy strips of steel that the tank pivots insert into can be levered outwards with a thumb sufficient to ease the pivot out at one end and then out comes the tank. Electrolysis? Here, a piece of angle iron suspended on a coach screw driven in a drilled hole, dangling from a wood lath. Washing soda solution (the electrolyte) goes in to a level just below the brim of the bucket, electrical power provided by an old (non-electronic) car battery charger. The case on this Optimus went in the bucket. Came out like this.
@Colin Geer remember the electrons flow from negative to positive. So connect the negative lead to the case and the positive lead to the scrap.
Electrolysis is an amazing process. I had a friend who did a pot bellied wood stove using a small welder and a large garbage can (plastic of course). I am not sure of his electric bill following the project as it took several days. I also understand that electrolysis will destroy brass and other none ferrous metals but have no experience with those metals having done only iron and steel. As with all things it seems, there seems to be noxious fumes so venting is important. As to the cost, a few electrons and some and a handful of washing powder so, pennies.
Use this electrolysis technique on your ferrous items (steel boxes; cast iron etc). Don’t use on brass, copper, bronze etc. Cheers Tony
