Ok i have a 3/8th plate of steel that seems to be galvanized. How do i go about welding it without any ill effects? Do i just grind clean the area that i will be welding an a lil farther back or is it even possible without an acid soak? thanks guys!
CK5
Register an account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members.
Welding Galvanized
- Thread starter stockk5
- Start date
Only thing I know is that when you weld it,,, it will put off some badass fumes.
I welded some handles to galvanized pipe one time to make a post driver.
I welded some handles to galvanized pipe one time to make a post driver.
Probably not the right way, but I just cleaned of where I was welding with a flapper and turn on a fan to blow the fumes away. I also only welded it outside.
hmmm yeah i was lookin round google for it.. im gonna prob just ditch this piece of steel and grab a regular one... haha dont feel like risking getting welders flu...
goofy1
1/2 ton status
get a good dust mask the ones we have at work are from 3M and say for welding fumes or to really be on the safe side get a respirator with charcoal and HEPA filters like used for spraypainting
i got sick one time from zinc poisoning from welding galvanized. if you do feel ill drink milk. I thought I was ventaleted enough but I had to weld a bunch of irrigation fittings and such and apparently not enough
uao85
1/2 ton status
yeah thats some bad stuff, I would probably just get some different non-galvinized steel.
Remington
Remington
Slapperbar
Retired Navy NDT Examiner
If when welding galvi, you spark up a smoke and it tastes sweet... hit the milk.
trust me, and don't ask.
trust me, and don't ask.
Hossbaby50
3/4 ton status
You can weld galvanized but try not to breath it in. It is toxic. When I have welded it I have a fan blowing in a crosswind direction to help keep from breathing it in.
Harley
Harley
Pookster
1/2 ton status
just a quick question, do I need a particulate filter of n95 rating, or an organic filter to protect against welding fumes?
jamber2541
1/2 ton status
use easy off oven cleaner, let it sit for a while, rinse it off and start welding
That will remove the galvanizing?
yeah how useful is that? im going to the metal yard in a few to just avoid this whole trying not to get sick thing haha
Cowboy_80
1/2 ton status
I would just get something with a charcoal filter. If it protects again nuclear dust, it'll protect against some burnt galvanized. I like the idea of using muriatic acid first though. That stuff works great. You'll be fine if you have plenty of ventilation. I've welded on more galvanized steel than I care to remember and never got sick. Had my helmet all up in the smoke screen, but had good fans around me to not let it linger.
Tominator II
1/2 ton status
Drinking milk after welding it works! I dont do it often but if I weld galvanized I do it outside and drink a lot of milk afterwards.
http://www.sperkoengineering.com/html/articles/WeldingGalvanized.pdf
Here is an article I searched and found a while back when I had to weld a fender on a galvanized boat trailer. It has useful info on breathers and restoring corrosion resistance.
I did it outside and had a fan on lo blowing the smoke away from me (but if you are using a shielding gas, this might not allow that to work properly). I also tried to only weld in short segments and walked away to let the smoke dissapate before coming back to weld another segment. I didn't drink milk (hadn't heard that one
) and luckily didn't get sick either.
Here is an article I searched and found a while back when I had to weld a fender on a galvanized boat trailer. It has useful info on breathers and restoring corrosion resistance.
I did it outside and had a fan on lo blowing the smoke away from me (but if you are using a shielding gas, this might not allow that to work properly). I also tried to only weld in short segments and walked away to let the smoke dissapate before coming back to weld another segment. I didn't drink milk (hadn't heard that one
) and luckily didn't get sick either.
jamber2541
1/2 ton status
it should remove most of it
Thanks, I still have some that I am going to use one day. That's good to know.
Pookster
1/2 ton status
http://www.sperkoengineering.com/html/articles/WeldingGalvanized.pdf
Here is an article I searched and found a while back when I had to weld a fender on a galvanized boat trailer. It has useful info on breathers and restoring corrosion resistance.
I did it outside and had a fan on lo blowing the smoke away from me (but if you are using a shielding gas, this might not allow that to work properly). I also tried to only weld in short segments and walked away to let the smoke dissapate before coming back to weld another segment. I didn't drink milk (hadn't heard that one
I read the whole thing, and here is what I got from it:
1. It may make you sick, but its limited in scope, and no long term effects. (some how I dont believe it totally, but whatever).
2. They list 3m part numbers that dont exist.
3. They dont talk about exactly what filtration level you need.
From what I can gather Zinc fumes is actually vaporized zinc- and as such is more like a fine dust particle, than vapor. By that I mean, cannot be filtered out by mechanical means alone. This article leads me to believe that a n95 or higher rated mask with a good seal iis adequate, and that the carbon ones are not necessary for zinc fumes, but can reduce the other welding fumes which actually are vapors.
Someone please comment, I hope I read it correctly.
