galvenised steel

[chrisbee]

is it possible to weld galvenised steel? if not, is it possible to remove the coating? and then weld it?

sorry if it is a dumb question, but I have spotted some for free

TIA
chris

 

[T0rnado69]

ive welded some before, i just ground the coating off and welded it.
and i used a respiratory so i couldnt breathe any fumes.

though was told that if you didnt clean the coating off first and welded it
the fumes would be very harmful.

 

[balmerchris]

Yep possible alright. But you really dont want to go there. Fixed some galved gates when I was a apprentice and threw up for about 12 hours. Its pretty dangerous stuff. If you do use it make sureyou have some sort of breathing protection.

 

[blenkie1]

Prolonged welding galv is harmful though I don't think it's been properly researched. Welded loads of the stuff on the decking of car transporters without any grinding and been ok. You can get a thing called 'fume fever' from it which I've had a few times. Its like a really bad dose of the flu, aching joints, shivers and being really, really cold. Not nice. But not had it every time I've welded it. Some stuff seems to take more grinding than other stuff. Not the best stuff to weld either.

 

[BrokenBiker]

galv is vicious stuff, comes off in white smokey flakey vapour and will do you a lot of harm after you inhale it. get rid of it with a flap disc and make sure its all off before welding

 

[Rig Pig]

I was always told to drink lots of milk, probably an old wives tail but as the other posts say - get the galvo off its fumes are nasty and don't forget to where a mask when your grinding it off!

 

[brightspark]

ri welded a load up on my garage frame years ago . no forum or anything else to to advise just burnt it off with the arc welder lookin back got a hedache and a sore throat thought nowt of it and life went on

 

[brightspark]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metal_fume_fever

 

[julianthegypsy]

I was always told to drink lots of milk, probably an old wives tail but as the other posts say - get the galvo off its fumes are nasty and don't forget to where a mask when your grinding it off!

We were always told that the symptoms were nausea and dizziness caused by the zinc, and that the antidote was bread and milk which supposedly absorbed it and made you feel better. I never suffered it so have no idea if it works or not. We were always taught to bronze weld galvanized as the bronze melts at a lower temperature than the zinc so if you get white zinc fumes coming off you're doing it wrong!

 

[chevy2]

I've always thought that employers have used the "drink milk and you'll be ok" thing as a way of getting employees to weld hazardous materials thinking that'll make it alright?

i only weld galvanised stuff if its a gate or railing for example that needs repairing, still grind off the area that needs welding and wear a welding fume mask,

If you dont grind it back enough it'll spit like mad when welded and the sparks are likely to get you also!
try and avoid if possible even though its free.

 

[doubleboost]

Horrible stuff

 

[Mr shiney]

I just modified a trailer cage that was galved. Ground off the galv and welded it fine still gave off the little floating things.

I did it outside wearing a respirator.

 

[Parm]

Just to throw my tuppence worth in. Make sure you use a respirator with a P3 rating when grinding off the coating and just in case it hasn't been said before, never ever weld on to galv if you want to keep your lungs!

 

[Rocketman]

I always use these Scan masks when welding and grinding. They have carbon in them too.

http://www.scan-safety.com/p/SCAPPEP2OFFV

They are pretty good and you don't end up sweating like a pig with them.

 

[chrisbee]

many thanks for the replys.

 

[wyn]

You can grind off the side you are welding, if it's something like tube it will still burn off from the inside and produce plenty of fumes.

 

[Steve Gray]

Metal fume fever is a result of the zinc boiling off into gas, same as if your brazing. Just do as above, remove all coating before hand. In my experience it also effects weld quality too

 

[Orraman]

As Julianthegypsy mentioned in post #9 bronze welding works well with thin galvanised steel and the corrosion resisting properties need not be affected.
If SIF bronze flux is mixed to a paste with methylated spirits and applied to both sides of each edge of the sheet the meths will flash off with the flame and welding can start immediately.
Using a smaller nozzle running soft with an oxidising flame and extra flux on the rod will allow the bronze to flow smoothly with the galvanise.
A weaker but much faster weld can be made using high silicone aluminium brazing rods and aluminium brazing flux with the advantage of a better colour match.