help with identifying a piece of plate

[Tin Can]

Hi all

I have managed to get hold of a piece of plate 8mm thick and 600mm x 600mm which i intend to use as a small portable welding table top

As i am quite a newbie i was wondering if any one can shed some light on the following

1. How can i identify what type of steel it is to see if it would be suitable for the above job - we install the modern fancy cycle shelters that you see at modern hospitals/schools on behalf of a company that manufactures and sells them so i thinks its one of there pieces - it appears to be powder coated and if you wire brush this off it appears to be galvanised underneath so i am wondering what type of steel it is made of

2. Depending on the suitability of the steel would it be possible to remove the powder coating and use it as a small welding surface with the galv still on (i know about the safety issues concerning galv) but as i wouldnt be welding 'it' and only welding 'on' it would it be ok

I know the easiest answer would be to ring the company that manufactures the shelters but as i am not sure if it is one of theres and technically the plate 'fell of the back of a lorry' its a bit of a no go

Sorry if its a dumb sounding question

Mark

 

[astro_al]

It doesn't really matter what grade of steel it is.

Get a 'wire cup' brush for your angle grinder, clean it all off (including the galv - you don't want a galvanized welding table), and you're good to go.

Yes it'll rust if you never use it, but if you never use it, who cares?

There are ways to get an idea of what the steel is, but in this case it really doesn't matter. Al.

 

[brightspark]

just clean the paint of it . it wont matter about the galve / at least it :wont go rusty and give a good earth conection

 

[madkayaker]

just clean the paint of it . it wont matter about the galve / at least it :wont go rusty and give a good earth conection

But you will be breathing the fumes as when you use it heat will transfer and burn the galv off and galv fumes are nasty

 

[Welderpaul]

Not ideal. Galv fumes are horrible and makes you feel like you have a hangover. We try to avoid welding it whenever possible, so wouldnt fancy it as a welding bench top.
Try and find something that isnt galvanised.