Galvanised steel... probably a silly question

[la bombe citroen]

Evening chaps,

This is probably a silly question, but your help would be greatly appreciated.

I need to do yet more welding work on my Peugeot 304 project this weekend, so I stopped at B&Q on the way home to pick up a sheet of steel. The problem is they didn't have any of the usual 1mm mild steel sheet that I normally buy, so I picked up one sheet of 0.5mm steel and another of 1mm galvanised steel.

The question is can I run a flap disk all over the galvanised sheet to remove the zinc coating, etc, and then treat it like a normal sheet of steel for welding purposes (ie: not risk the usual galv problems).

Secondly, am I right in thinking that even my small Clarke Pro90 mig will obliterate the 0.5mm sheet?

Any advice very gratefully received

 

[Hitch]

Remove the galv 10mm or so from the edges where you intend to weld, and it will weld okay. Trouble is, the heat will burn it 20-30mm in, so really its best to wear a mask.

 

[steve202]

.5 is a little too thin. You would do better for yourself using thicker stuff.

 

[la bombe citroen]

Thanks chaps - much appreciated

So, the galv sheet will be fine so long as I strip all of it with a flap disk?

Cheers

Guy

 

[kingkenny]

a pint of milk is the best thing to have after welding galv.

 

[la bombe citroen]

Thanks chaps - much appreciated

So, the galv sheet will be fine so long as I strip all of it with a flap disk?

Cheers

Guy

 

[pedrobedro]

Just clean off the edge you are welding like Hitch said, you don't need to strip all of it. How big are the patches you are welding ? The amount of exposure you will get from the bit of welding you are doing is unlikely to give you any problems even if you sniff the welds after you finish them and if you strip it you will be at more risk from the dust than you are from the fumes. Don't get paranoid, just leave the door and window open for ventilation and wear a mask.

 

[la bombe citroen]

Just clean off the edge you are welding like Hitch said, you don't need to strip all of it. How big are the patches you are welding ? The amount of exposure you will get from the bit of welding you are doing is unlikely to give you any problems even if you sniff the welds after you finish them and if you strip it you will be at more risk from the dust than you are from the fumes. Don't get paranoid, just leave the door and window open for ventilation and wear a mask.

The area I'm doing is probably 30cm by about 20 cm (edge of the floor pan - where it meets the sill - I've welded normal steel into the floor and just need to add a bit to meet the sill itself)

This thread has put my mind at rest - will leave the garage doors open and drink a pint of milk

(Oh, and is there a guide on this site to posting pics.... wouldn't mind adding the Peugeot to the Projects sections but I'm not too good with computers)

Cheers

Guy

 

[bigbadbugga]

Best place to get steel for cars is from your local Motor factors, its around £10 for a 4'x2' sheet of 1mm.

There are three small factors near me and they all stock it.

 

[Luke]

I was about to say, what are you doing buying steel from B&Q!!

 

[TechnicAl]

a pint of milk is the best thing to have after welding galv.

That is an urban myth

Milk will make no difference whatsoever.

Dont breathe the fumes

 

[la bombe citroen]

I was about to say, what are you doing buying steel from B&Q!!

I know, I know... but it was 6pm on a Friday evening

 

[Hitch]

I looked in there today, was it £40 for 500x1000 of 1mm galv!

Regardin Milk... thats not true.

 

[la bombe citroen]

I looked in there today, was it £40 for 500x1000 of 1mm galv!

Regardin Milk... thats not true.

Yes... don't rub it in

 

[Alistair]

the robbing gits!!

 

[Weldingartisan]

Sorry guys got to disagree about the milk, cut out many galv calorifiers in my younger days and a pint of milk made a lot of difference. The union managed to get us an extra shilling (5p) a day to pay for it!
One does get older and wiser of course.............W/A

 

[English Steve]

Sorry guys got to disagree about the milk, cut out many galv calorifiers in my younger days and a pint of milk made a lot of difference. The union managed to get us an extra shilling (5p) a day to pay for it!
One does get older and wiser of course.............W/A

Yes, but they also used to supply bottles of milk to our painters instead of decent BA and extraction, in the late 70's and early 80's

 

[TechnicAl]

They used to do a lot of things that are banned today. Asbestos is a prime example.

Im pretty sure that milk is not the antidote to toxic zinc poisoning. I try to do everything possible to avoid breathing welding fume, whatever the metal. Who knows what might be the asbestos of tomorrow.

 

[kingkenny]

Regardin Milk... thats not true.[/QUOTE]

only going on what i was told as an apprentice,many moons ago,it was also in the blue book if my memory serves me right.