Electrolysis to Clean Finds

 Okay, I am new to electrolysis and have been experimenting with it to clean up some of my metal detecting finds.  Here is what I use: car battery charger, Arm & Hammer Washing Soda (this is not baking soda and can be found on the laundry isle at the super market), you need a chunk of metal that you don't care about to use as a sacrificial anode (I have been using an old spoon that I found),  a handful of alligator clips from Radio Shack, and a plastic container (I use a plastic peanut butter jar).

Fill the container with water and add some washing soda to the water (not sure how much) so that it will conduct electricity.  Clip the positive battery charger cable to the spoon (anode), and the negative one to the object you would like to clean (cathode).  I use the cheap alligator clips to hang the object in the water.  Make sure the anode and cathode  don't touch.

Turn on or plug in the batter charger.  I am using the trickle charge mode.  You should see the cathode start to bubble.  It is making hydrogen, so keep the area ventilated.  I have left objects in there for 24 hours depending on how much rust needs to be removed.  Check on the object occasionally washing it off.  Eventually the rust clumps will easily fall off.  

Caution:  This process can get the tank very hot.  I melted the first container I tried, so be careful.
Here is a good site that talks about electrolysis