Real-Newbie HHO Questions...

[Sprocket]

Thanks guys, good info.  Yeah, my 'kitchen-ware' idea seems to have been ill-conceived - I expected kitchen-grade steel to be good stuff, and this is obviously not the case!   I have just sacrificed a few spoons as suggested and things are working much better - lots less crap being produced (I presume the brown goo is rust-based) and after a few hours the spoons aren't 'dissolving' like the other stuff, but are noticably scored in places - it would appear my cutlery isn't up to much either!

Time to source some quality stainless steel...

[Haliburton]

the better quality metal the better the electrode...... 

[Dr.Greenthumb]

they might be plated with nickel or some other additive used for SS. I think it takes some type of electrolysis to plate them. so by doing what your doing your reversing what was done to plate them.

[Athopi]

You might want to try getting rid of those copper wires and replace them with stainless. I replaced my wires with stainless welding rod (308) and had a great reduction in red scum. Also, when you buy your screws, washers and nuts from the bulk bins, there seems, inevitably, to be a zink one or two that sneak in. You will find out pretty quick which those are after you run your setup a little while.

[MrWho`]

If you can get your fasteners from a fastener supplier. That way if they pull zinc you can gripe and get a discount on your next purchase. 

They are usually better priced and have a better selection overall.