![A carbon fibre electropolishing brush](images/carbon%20fibre%20brush%20for%20electro%20polishing.JPG)
DIY Electropolishing
Here is my new personal development: a small stainless steel
weld cleaning setup. First of all, I was not happy with
pickling and passivating pastes - they are poisonous and
highly toxic. Require a high level of safety and very
dangerous to handle and use, messy and very difficult to
wash and the main thing I did not want this sh... stuff
anywhere on my alcohol stills and stills of my customers,
anywhere near my workshop and myself personally.
![electropolishing](images/ferromit%20electropilishing.JPG)
![ready for polish](images/stainless%20weld%20electropolishing.JPG)
In fact, there are some different nontoxic methods exist:
sandblasting, mechanical polishing, and electropolishing. So
the sandblasting is ok but can ruin the mirror finish.
Sandblasting requires the special enclosed chamber,
compressor and heaps of other stuff. I use it, but for some
little spots, the next one is a mechanical polishing, again
- not good for difficult to reach places, can be messy and
limited by the shape of the detail - I use it too, for easy
to reach things, but what about electropolishing? First of
all, it is gives a lot of advantages over chemical
passivation - not messy, nontoxic, easy to wash off.
![ferromit electropolishing](images/weld%20seam%20electropolishing%20ferromit.JPG)
![polishing in progress, ferromit method](images/ferromit%20electropolishing%20method.JPG)
The setup utilizes a method of electro-galvanic metal
cleaning where electricity, electrolyte, and electrical
conductors are involved. The readily available
installations for electro polishing are selling commercially,
though quite expensive. So I done my research and
experimenting, and found that many things are readily
available and cost next to nothing in comparison with a
commercial setups, plus I am in the stainless fabrication
industry, and I found that the most of the things that I
need already available in my workshop, also I am making my
carbon brushes myself.
![electropolishing complete](images/DIY%20electropolishing%20ferromit.JPG)
![electropolishing method by ferromit](images/stainless%20steel%20electropolishing%20ferromit.JPG)
The insulated brush holder cost a few dollars to build, and
non-toxic chemicals are available in local automotive parts
shop, thus if you about to create your stainless steel based
distillation equipment, you may consider using this simple
DIY electro-polishing method to make your equipment bright
and shiny and free of poisonous traces.
Good luck.