Identifying galvanised/zinc coated metal

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Having read about the bad after effects welding this stuff can have, i want to make sure i dont ever weld it,lol.

Is there an easy way to tell if a metal is galvanised? Does its surface appear different to "normal" metal for instance?

I have quite a lot of scrapy metal in my garage from various gates, washing machines etc etc to practice welding on, but i want to make sure its not galvanised before i start,lol.

Cheers

 

[Hitch]

Galvanised looks like the surface is covered with silver flakes in a randon pattern.

Zintec, is an even coating, of a light grey colour, often gets white powdery deposits on it if its left about unprotected.

 

[shenion]

Sometimes it is hard to tell. I fit is steel, unpainted and not rusted, then it probably has a zinc coating.

Like HM said, often looks like silver flakes; I have also seen it as ripples. The coating is abit grainy if looked up close. Has a matt finish.

I have welded some galv. If unsure, just hit it with a grinder anyway. Use good ventilation as the fumes are irritating.

 

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Basically like this:-

Shiny,flaky sort of finish?

 

[irondarren]

Nasty horrible galvanised, great way to screw up a brand new mig tip and shroud.And that is most certainly galv

 

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Cheers for the replies.
Ive found some box section, thats like a dull matt finish, but it has rusted from where the garage roof has a slight leak,lol, so i assume that cant be coated and is standard finish?

 

[Ratty]

Galv only looks shiny and flaky when it's new. Old stuff just looks dull and grey and you will often get rusty bits where it has worn off. Also some metal is spray galvanised which never looks flaky (only 'hot-dip' galv gets that tell-tale flake pattern) but just looks similar to silver or when older, grey, paint. (Although paint fumes aren't much good for welders or lungs either).

 

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Hmm, worrying,lol.

 

[weldequip]

Make sure you have good ventilation & wear some form of fume mask (not one of those cheapo dust masks) when welding that stuff... horrible, noxious fumes and dangerous to your health.
weldequip

 

[irondarren]

See a parweld helmet with air feed resperator in BOC today 600 quid, friend of mine that was with me said blimey 600 quid for a helmet thats bang out of order. To which the guy in BOC said not really, if your welding galvanised and get zinc poisoning you will be off work for a few days. How many days off work does it take before you loose 600 quid.

 

[weldequip]

Well, you can get em much cheaper than that but when I said fume mask I was thinking of the disposable type (with charcoal filter) that can be picked up for a few quid, and more realistic to the occassional user.
weldequip

 

[irondarren]

Actually, there is no big issue with galvanised. Make sure the area you are working in is well ventalated, open any and all windows and doors. And as weldequip says a charcoal filter mask. Following in this fashion i have welded loads of galvanised stuff and never been affected by it.

 

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I will always been welding outdoors anyway, so will always have good ventilation.
Ive seen a mask with changeable filters for fume/paint vapours for £10 ish so im going to get one of those.