Wow, impressive technique to polish HW. the best part was how you explained it all, very clear and professional. Very cool video and information.

my brother had a tub of hot wheels that i somehow inherited when moved to Japan. most have been pretty beaten up. i want to display them and your vids are a great help. (yes girls play with cars) thanks

2:53 at the risk of being seen as a nitpicker: The bubbles are probably hydrogen, not air. If done within reason, the concentration is probably never going to get high enough to cause a risk, but people might still not want to drop in a piece of metal over night "to see what happens" (in addition to the safety advice you've already mentioned in the video). That said: Amazing video!

75% phosphoric and 6 amps seems like using a sledgehammer to crack a peanut. I have been cleaning corroded hotwheels for years by soaking them in acetic acid - commonly known as vinegar ($2/48/gal @ walmart). I just tried your electro method using vinegar, an old 500 milliamps phone charger and an unwanted casting on the negative side and got the same results although it took a couple of minutes instead of a couple of seconds, but It was also safer and cheaper.

So cool! All that shine and no elbow grease, no loss of details

Hobby Pros mix up a bucket of baking soda and water in a five gallon pail to plunge hands or dilute anything knocked over, splattered or spilled. It instantly neutralizes the acid and is more effective than water. Let everyone that comes around know about the pail.

I finally got a gallon of the acid. I must say its amazing how well that works on all different metals. I'm experimenting with this process on all kinds of projects. Thank you for sharing.

Great tip. I know you hinted at this idea but I think you should do a side by side comparison of two identical cars (probably brand new cars) where you do this process on one and polish the other. Then paint the two cars exactly the same at the same exact time and see what the difference is between the two. I always enjoy your videos. Thanks.

After watching a few of your fascinating videos I arrived here and I get it now. It's an electrolytic bath, my Dad used this technique for archaeological finds. This was metal from the Roman period and the levels of corrosion were such that items would need to be in overnight.

Very nice. I read up on this. Turns out there is a sweet spot in the current density where max polishing occurs. Too little current and nothing happens, too much and you get bubbles. Somewhere in the middle a fine insulating layer forms - this is the "residue". Anything that sticks through the layer is etched flat "polished". So the layer is very important and in my experiments I get best results when I do NOT agitate. Just keep the current down so that bubbles don't occur.

I'm restoring old mechanical calculating machines, and I learned quite a bit from your videos, as I was new, for instance using paint stripper or polishing clear plastics, just wanted to thank you real fast. AWESOME beginner tutorials! - For advanced hobbyists too, of course, just wanted to say that you can explain so everybody understands it, even not enlish-motherlanguage guys like me :)

*covers car to dripping point with rubbing compound* "I use a small amount"

you always put out a great video brother...love the how to videos for I continue to learn something new each time...you are certainly one I look up to and consider a master in the craft...keep up the great work...we all appreciate what you do...god bless...

I use PhAcid without the electricity. I find it does a good enough job for 1/75 scale models and gives them a nice key to take paint. If you find that the paint isn't taking to the metal's surface because it's too shiny, some PhAcid will knock off a bit of that shine and give some grip in the metal.

I just stumbled across this video and its amazing how the polishing is done.

I love your channel. it's just great. mu girlfriend and I are going to go to car boot sales and dig up some old cars!!

that was kool...... until now I would have assumed smoother is better. thank you!

I just recently started watching and I am very fascinated by this looking forward to seeing more

Nice! I was wondering about using electrolysis on Hot Wheels. I also have another hobby of metal detecting and use this and a tumbler to clean metal finds. I don't use this on all coins because this takes away from its value sometimes. In this case it's brilliant! Excellent work as always!

Hello mate, Thanks for the great video. However, could you do a video just on the charger setup?

Have you ever tried washing soda solution as an electrolyte? Its readily available and not as hazardous...by the way, love your videos, I've learned a lot and just picked up restoring hot wheels and matchbox cars as a hobby...the fun is in the hunt!

I've read that amperage is key here. If you get that right you get a very smooth finish that removes all the high bits.

Great ! you have me a nice idea how to recover a nice view to all old rusted items when i perform a restoration !!

05:47 The Mercedes looks absolutely RAD in bare metal, it's one of my all time favourite cars. And: Yes, I shed a tear or two in the scene in "The Witches of Eastwick" where they crash - or at least devilishly abuse one from the same timeframe / Mercedes model line (I know I know, it's not the same model, but roughly the same lines - WHAT. A. BEAUTY. )

Thanks for this great video! What settings did you use on your battery charger? Also, have you ever tried to use vinegar to clean the metal? How did that work out?

thinking of trying this myself. Are you using the 6V or 12V setting on the charger?

Use water and baking soda, the soda neutralize the acid.

Thanks a lot for posting! I'm into metal detecting and was a bit intimidated by the process in other videos but really need to step up & learn better cleaning methods. Yours made it look much less daunting...Thanks Again!

This is one of the best videos you have made.... and as of yet.... I like all of your videos.... thank you for the hard work ... looking forward to the next video!

It's a cool process but personally I can't help but use a file and sandpaper to clean up the rough casting. Window edges, mold seams all the surface pitting....I just prefer to sharpen up the entire casting. I know it's not as original anymore but it seems silly to go so far and not take time to perfect the casting as much as possible.

I wanted to try something like this on some antique copper cups and some other old metal items. My question is should you clear coat the item after this process to prevent further oxidation? Not worried about the food safe side of it since I wouldn't paint the inside of the cup and by what I've researched on paints, I can find some that are totally food safe once completely cured. But, like I said, I wouldn't paint the inside of the cup. I just want these things to return to their original copper finish and stay that way. Thank you for any advice.

i used to use brasso to polish toy cars and that also worked a treat

What do you do with the acid after use? Pour it back in the original bottle? Keep it in the glass jar? Dump it down the sink? Good video, and great, fast results. Thank you!

Great video! I'd really like to see this process done on a heavily corroded redline base, not just a bit of tarnish.

Thank you for this. I'm sure there would be all sorts of applications where this could be used in restoration projects where mechanical abrasion would be harmful and destroy the life history that you have preserved here. Kind regards . . . Andy

Love your videos, having been trying some of your techniques with success. Thank you! Just one observation, 12 volts DC cannot electrocute you no matter how many amps are available - try touching both terminals of a 700 amp car battery, one with each hand - nothing. Still wise to keep the water away from the charger. I would be more inclined to use a 12v battery for safety.

Yo I really love your videos you take a beat up care and turn it into something way more amazing than the original

Cool. Looks like a video i once saw on applying Chrome. 👍🤘

how many cars could you do with one jaw full of the phosphoric acid, great video again

Great! Controlled reduction in electrolysis

ok that's cool thank you for sharing and in detail how to. lots videos don't do detail

Fantastic hubbly bubbly crud busting chemical plopping electric fizzing cleaning stuff. Thanks as always for the stimulus.

Awesome video !! Thumbs up Bro 👍👍 You've a new fan & subscriber from France. Chris 😉

Wow !! Looks great. Thanks for sharing this process.

I have a car where wheels are good.can i assume because bearings are delrin and the electropolishing process does not affect bearing same with wheel.

Amazing video! I'll use it as a reference if i ever want to try this for myself.

so now you've shown the difference between the two processes, would it be unfeasible to show how a compounded utilization of the two techniques could be benificial. I've an idea in mind that useing the acid wash to get to the base shine woudl make an easier time with the fine pollish wheel from the other video.

The hotwheels delorean is a prime candidate for this.

Can be used to polish a gold ring?

very interesting, the merc you show at the end has it's A pillars missing from the front of the roof, could you comment or show how you would fix that.

If you ever find the electric current flow to aggressive you can wire a 21W car tail light bulb in series with the supply which will limit the current flow to 1.4A to 1.7A depending on the output voltage of the charger. Or any other car bulb wattage to achieve the current flow you desire.

Great video, can you give me some tip to get rid of the pitting so i can get a smooth paint job.

Awesome work congrats. I have a farm tractor and I'm wondering if you can help me with his restoration? Thank you

I wonder if this would be of any benefit to some of the Airsoft gun parts I mess with. Gearbox shells especially. They are usually made from a mystery zinc/mag/alu blend... experimentation required!

somebody probably said this and this is very late ,but the latex gloves also insulate your hands....

What would happen if you dont wash the acid off right away? Would it start to eat away at the metal? It would be interesting to see how much it will eat up the car

Thanks a lot!!!! I found this tutorial simply amazing. One question: In my country I can only find the Phosphoric acid 85%, does it work as well as the 75%? thanks for this amazing video! subscribed!! Regards, Mauricio.

@baremetalHW Hi, thanks for your videos and sharing. You mentioned about how the paint job will turn out later on both cars, did you finally did it on any video , so I can check? Regards.

very cool process - thanks for sharing this.

Why does it need to be polished if your going to paint the car?

I like the finish on the King George V 1920 penny, UK. Is that a silver dollar or half or quarter? Excellent explanation and safety guide. Lovely finish on the cars. Remember the safety glasses too. Sorry, maybe that one's a given. Thumbs up!

Awesome vid. Very nice result to time ratio!

Is it possible to just clamp the positive to a wire of the same metal, and secure it to the jar; that way, you'd just have to tie the body to a string?

does the phosphoric acid need to be 75% concentrated?

Two questions: What is the result of acid without electricity and more than that, it would seem the compound you used would do the job alone. No?

So you add any water to the phosphoric acid or just the straight 75%?

Did you ever do the follow up video..... any link?

phosphoric acid is great if you want to make your own Cola

**IMPORTANT** Actually if it gets on your skin, it is better to Neutralize the Acid with Baking Soda. Just an FYI

Amazing how fast that penny shined up :-o

I do realize it so that I missed out on; certain toy car restoration episodes, that had one of the earliest release dates. Such as the 2012 Matchbox or Hot Wheels restorations.

cant wait for the followup!

Hmm, i guess the residue is in fact zinc oxide, deposited during the electrolysis session, as it seems the castings are made of a zamak alloy or something like that

I can't wait to try this method myself... I was also going to try something like TARN-X and I wonder have you ever tried that and do you know if it works or not?

how about after this electropolish do a thin plating, soft handpolish, plating again, polish again. will it in the end remove deeper scuffs?

Hello can i something, i can only search is Phosphoric Acid Food grade, is this same as you use? its 85%

nice. I prefer the mirror finish

Is that the same Lindy Fralin that makes awesome guitar pickups?

could you use the acid from an old car battery? or vinegar? some household alternative to buying phosporic?

i always learn watching your channel.

This phosphoric acid is extremely hard to find here in Canada. Sure lots of chemical whole salers sell it to industry but obtaining a smal litre or two is becoming a pain anyone found a source here in Canada?

Can the acid be reused?

I've just stumbled upon your channel buddy. question what is the best way to remove the chassis from the shell ? I'll watch your vids buddy. brilliant.

I have a question about the acid - can it be re-used or will it lose strength over time/use?

Can I do this with any plating like copper, zinc, or nickel?

WOW incredible! Great tips thanks!!

does this technique works for stainless 316? what kind of psu do u need for running a small production? lets say 7000 small cars like these (but stainless)

what is the lowest voltage for this process to work ?

How many volts do you have your battery charger set for? I see yours has 6, 12 and 24 volts settings.

Great informative video ?

I'm finding food grade,and technical grade phosphoric acid. Which one do you use? Or does it matter?

Did it take off the protected layer of the coin?

Excellent video!

so if you do not want to achieve a flat surface and you're going to paint the car, then what's the point of tbe polishing?

Could you use a different acid, like Glycolic?

Any reason I could not get the same results cleaning up some old tools? Ie a hammer using the same methodology? Love this idea, thanks! 3:45

Will this method work with tin toys? I’m trying to restore a tin truck and trailer from the 1940s

Great lesson!!!

this would be awesome if you could clean the base of redlines while the car is still in one piece,how many of us have had a great original paint job,but a terrible base?

Could this process be useful for old tools?