Electrolysis - Copper as well as steel?

Hi

Could members please share their wisdom on their use of the Battery Charger/Washing Soda/Hot water method of cleaning metals?

I have succesfully utilised this method to clean a badly rusted Optimus 111B steel casing prior to painting. I utilised a iron railway spike as the active electrode and it worked as well as the other examples I've read about on CCS.

My question is can I utilise this method to clean copper and or brass? Do I need to find a suitable copper based active electrode?
In particular I have three Tilley R1 fonts that are in the original white/cream colour. I was hoping to remove the coating prior to repainting?

Thanks

Paul

 

As far as I know it has never been recommended for brass or copper. Dan

 

Electrolysis will take the paint off but it will also strip away some of the copper and zinc from the founts. You'd be better off removing the old paint with paintstripper e.g. Nitromors.