Electrocleaning solution (anodic) composition/additives info

A. The best coverage of cleaning issues you will ever find is in one of the least expensive textbooks you'll ever find: "The Garden State Branch AESF Electroplating Course Manual" =>

I believe that the pH of alkaline cleaning solutions is the principal thing that prevents oxides from forming, but chelators (or complexors) play a significant role too.

The principal role of sodium hydroxide, besides pH control, is saponification of animal fat into soap. Oakite is not a basic chemical, it's a brand name (Chemetall Oakite) of proprietary cleaning processes including anodic alkaline electrocleaners. Oakite would presumably be pleased to help you help you with the chemical balance of the cleaning bath.

Unless you are a very high user of cleaning products, it is a waste of time to try to do your own formulations. I am a chemist and had a decent knowledge of most of the stuff in anodic cleaners but rapidly gave up the idea of making my own to save money. My time was worth more producing an end product and I could get tech help when something was not quite right. Sodium hydroxide is a common substance in an electrocleaner but is far from being a high percentage in a well formulated cleaner. Sodium gluconate or another derivative of gluconic acid is used as a rust (oxide) remover. It complexes the iron oxide so that it does not redeposit on the steel. The hydroxide saponifies oils , turns them into a soluble soap at high temps. High temp "melts" greases so that the hydroxide and other stuff can remove it.

The first time a home brew fails, the boss will come looking for the lost soul that brought it into the facility even tho you may have gotten a nice bonus for the money savings a few weeks before.