I posted last week about finding a 3/8x12" carbon rod for arc gouging, unclad, for 35¢. I took a little heat for only buying one. Well, today I tried it, and here's what happened. The wrong electrode bubbled! I have 2 old railroad track tie plates standing in a square 5 gallon detergent bucket, which I've been using as anodes quite successfully, although I have to take them out and wire brush them occasionally. I figured I'd hang the carbon rod in the middle, reverse the connetions, and just derust what had been my sacrificial anodes for awhile. Plugged in the battery charger (red wire to the carbon, black to the steel plates) and the carbon rod bubbled! Thinking the world had somehow stood on end, I swapped the connections. Then the carbon rod REALLY bubbled!
I measured the open circuit voltage of my battery charger to be a little over 18 volts DC, red lead positive (as it always was).
I haven't figured out what the deal is with the positive electrode bubbling, but since it might be nasty gas like chlorine, I stopped. Since the steel cathode didn't bubble, it doesn't appear this will work. Pilot error still seems likely. Any of you smart guys see what's going on? I don't.
Grant Erwin