Scope of this guide
Junior version: what you will see, what you record, and what you never touch. Recognise early, escalate fast.
Series: finishing.com recurring questions answered with platingclub line practice. Parameters are industry-standard starting ranges — confirm against your supplier TDS.
Triage: symptom → confirm → first move
| Symptom | Likely root | Confirm by | First move |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rough, gritty deposits | Bag burst: sludge bleeding | Bag inspection under load | Replace bag, polish filter |
| Anode current falls | Bags clogged / anodes passivated | Voltage vs amps trend | Clean or re-bag anodes |
| Nickel content drifts down | Anodes not dissolving | Daily metal titration | Check bag choke and anode area |
| Particles despite filter | Sludge already in bath | Filter ΔP + housing check | Full filter service; settle, syphon |
| Recurring after refill | Bad bag media or wrong size | Bag spec audit | Standardize bag spec per tank |
Recognise, record, escalate
| You see | You do | You never do |
|---|---|---|
| Gritty deposit | Flag anode bags for inspection | Add more filter cartridges only |
| Bag seam leaking sludge | Tag tank, call senior | Squeeze the bag clean by hand in-tank |
| Anode basket jammed | Report weight drift | Reach in to free it while live |
| New bag installed | Date it on the ledger | Assume the last guy logged it |
Engineer notes
- One variable per corrective action; verify with the confirm-by column.
- Records beat memory: log every trial on the tank card.
- Two failed actions in a row is a senior call — escalate with your log.
Safety: anode work means live bus bars and hot, chemical-soaked bags. Lock-out before touching baskets, drain and rinse bags outside the tank, gloves and shield throughout.
FAQ
What does the anode bag do?
Holds anode sludge so it never reaches your parts. A split bag rains grit straight onto the cathode.
How often are bags checked?
Weekly visual under load, and any time deposits turn rough.
Why date a bag?
Bags age-out on schedule; the ledger replaces them before they split.