[Slickriffs]

Need to do a little fabrication and I'm looking for some 18 guage. I found some galvanizes sheet on line. Can the coating be welded?

Thanks

Keith

 

[stuartc]

yes it can but you need to grind the coating of wear you are going to weld . weld itin a well ventilated area as the galvanising is toxic

 

[project66]

the gases released from galvanized steel when welded is very toxic. (not to mention gives off a pretty green glow)If your just doing a few pieces your not going to die from it, probably wont even get sick. I would just recommend getting some plain sheet metal( i know Home depot lumber yards sell small pieces)

 

[Slickriffs]

Really..Home Depot? I was wondering about that..We have one on every corner here. I check it out. In the mean time I did order 1 piece from Tabco who makes patch panels also just to have something.

 

[MARTINSR]

I can not warn you enough about welding on the galvanized metal. Galvanize coating is ZINC, it gives off fume what will cause "Zinc fever" as it was called years ago. It is VERY, VERY serious. Eric, known here as Sevt_Chevelle was damaged for life because of welding on a Honda with weld thru primer (also zinc rich) ask him, he is more than happy to explain the dangers.

 

[Slickriffs]

Your point is well taken Martin. A shame it is sold for that purpose with no warning at the websites.

Thanks,

Keith

 

[cassidy]

Yep, stay away from galvanized metal if you can.

Been using that to repair rusted sections on my car and it's definitely a health risk. Got very sick one time even while wearing gas mask coz there was'nt proper ventilation.

Also welds look like crap due to zinc contamination, even if you do prep work.

 

[sevt_chevelle]

As Martin said I got Zinc "fever" back in Dec of 98. Since then suffer daily said affects like constant coughing and shortest of breath. Last Dec/Jan I found out that I NOW have a lung diease because of my exposure to Zinc from welding.
To make a long stort short basically the air sacs that make up your lungs, mine are dying off, my lungs are self destructing.
My total lung function is around 45%. If you rated that % out is equals to a male in his late 70's who was a smoker for 50 yrs.

Am 26 yrs old, be 27 on the 22 so this isnt something I got from a lifetime of welding. All it takes is that one time. My lungs are shot because I didnt fully understand the dangers of welding on zinc and didnt protect myself from the fumes.

I take daily and weekly meds. Two inhalers in the morning and night. One cost 35 bucks a month the other is 65-70. Each week I have a infusion with human steriods that help stalbize the lungs. From when I started taking this med back in Jan til now it has cost me around 1500 bucks. This is something that will stay with me for life, it WONT get better only worse. So please use some caution...Eric

 

[julmer]

Ventalation!!!!! and more ventilation. If you have access to one, I much prefer TIG to MIG for galvanized. I worked on school busses for years and all the panels have to be galvanized. With a TIG, you can boil the zinc off just ahead of the actual weld and the fumes are not so bad.
I wasn't thinking too well and did some stick welding on a couple of seat brackets in a closed garage. Less than a dozen 1" welds and it put me out of comission for a day. NEVER AGAIN.

 

[Slickriffs]

Thanks Eric...My sincere hopes that you do get better. I have asthma so I understand the inhaler thing. Until I find some plain sheetmetal(more difficult that I imagined) I'll Mig weld Galvanized..but since my patchs are small I'll sand off the galv and still treat it with respect.

Thanks for you're up close and personal account.

TAke care,

Keith