RE: [MV] Tips from the cheap mechanic

Matt Kreutzmann - Via (kreutzm@ebs.ac.com)
Thu, 13 Nov 1997 14:32:58 -0600

> >I did some experimenting with electrolytic rust removal a few months ago,
> >but none of it was successful. There was a TV show a while back, where they
> >were removing rust from a WWI radial engine using the same process. The
> >engine had been submerged in shallow salt water for a long time, and looked
> >horrible before they started. When it emerged from the tank, after several
> >days, it looked perfect. All the rust and corrosion and marine deposits had
> >been removed, leaving only shiny metal. (I think this was an episode of
> >Smithsonian World, where they were restoring the plane for display there.)
>
>I saw the same show. It was very interesting. I would love to know how
>they did this and the techniques involved. It was amazing how good the engine
>looked after the process. When I first looked at it, I would have thought it
>was scrap metal....

I hope I'm not taking this thread too far, but if it was related to
the Smithsonian, it might be worth contacting the Paul E. Garber Restoration
Facility in Maryland. I believe the address is available from the National
Aero-Space Museum web site. Garber is where they store and restore all of
the aircraft in the Smithsonian's collection. It's absolutely unbelievable
what they have there.

I have read in the past that they pretty much had to develop some very deep
skills in corrosion control and restoration, largely because nobody knew
how to do it well when they started restoring planes. They would likely
be a good source for more information on this electrolytic process. Because
they are quite intent on retaining as much of the original metal from
an aircraft as possible, they would be all over this kind of process.

-Matt Kreutzmann
Minneapolis, MN

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