Got my first taste of Zinc poisoning...

Finalreminder · May 11, 2008

Got my first taste of Zinc poisoning last night.
In this thread I was soldering a steel coupling to a brass valve using mapp gas.
I had no idea the steel was galvanised, it didnt look it.
So two hours after the job I was sat in the lounge watching TV when almost instantly I become incredibly cold, exactly like a fever. Put the heating up to 75 degrees but I was till shivering quite violently.
Head started to fog up before developing into a fierce headache.
Symptoms was exactly like the flu

I still hadn't clocked onto what the hell was wrong with me.
Went to bed and thats when I twigged.
The thing is, the fumes from the solder job was minimal and I was in a well ventilated area.

I pretty much recovered this morning so it lasted appx 9 hours. I'm really forgetful and foggy though..I keep forgetting what I'm typing.
Oh, and a raging thirst.

That'll teach me for sure

crayefish · May 11, 2008

wow that sounds pretty bad. never inhaled much zinc. didnt know it would effect so quickly! guess you wont need to take zinc tablets for a while :laughing:

however when i was younger i did spend about two years grinding a lot of aluminium parts with no face mask.... until i found out it gave you altzimers. whoops! i wear one when ever im grinding ally now... well when i remeber too!

Dangle_kt · May 11, 2008

I read drinking milk help. Is this an old wives tale?

snowcat · May 11, 2008

Old coal miners trick isnt it the milk,

would have thought the fumes from the flux would have been as nasty as one galvo' job, air fed for long jobs, but have never had any side affects from the odd bits here and there..

Satsuma · May 11, 2008

Sounds nasty, I hope you are feeling better now.

Thanks for the heads up, I have read its nasty but I didn't realise it did that, I assumed it was more of a long term health risk.

There are lots of sheet galvanised repairs on my car which I need to cut out. Is the dust as bad i.e. if I attack it with a grinder?

shenion · May 11, 2008

Have had it, it is not real long lasting. Was fine by morning.

What is odd is you finish work, then a few hours later you suddenly get a feverish feeling.

Zinc oxide is not poisonous but is a irritant and induces what is similar to an allergic reaction. That can be deadly when combined with asma or other respiratory ailments.

Just welded some galv last night. Just 2 tiny spot welds on an electrical box (put knock-out back in.) So, no big deal. Did let it cool before getting near it.

If doing grinding, I'd use a mask and good eye protection.

fingers99 · May 12, 2008

I got a dose recently. Don't want it again.

I've been thinking about removing the plating chemically, rather than physically. In the Covell video, yer man uses what the Americans call Muriatic Acid (more commonly, Hydrochloric) before TIGing the stuff.

Wonder if plain old Sulphuric (easier to get hold of as battery acid from my local factor) would work as well?

Satsuma · May 12, 2008

I use brick/patio cleaner (Hydrochloric) sold at most builders merchants for cleaning up items I collect when diving. Although I know that it will corrode steel very readily, even the vapour.

Edit:
I found this after a bit of a google... "Hydrochloric acid attacks metal and will dissolve it . . . but it dissolves rust even faster than it dissolves metal. So it is used in industry to de-rust metal before painting or plating. But after acid dipping the metal is very prone to flash rusting, and if metal is subject to hydrochloric acid fumes it will rust terribly."

Biscayne · May 12, 2008

36% Hydrochloric acid is available as "Spirits of salt" from good hardware stores (not the chains) for drain cleaning. I haven't tried it for removing Zinc but it's pretty good on rust, grease etc.

Biscayne · May 12, 2008

Further to the previous post, here is a picture of some 2mm Zintec swabbed with cotton wool soaked in Spirits of Salt (Rubber gloves & goggles worn - it bites!). The reaction is rapid and gives audible feedback. It seems that Zinc is much more soluble in Hydrochloric acid than mild steel, as the zinc first turns black and with continued rubbing disappears altogether but the steel remains mostly unaffected, just a dull grey surface left. The etched area was washed with water and cleaned with emery cloth. I'll try welding it tomorrow.

shenion · May 12, 2008

Cool, I have some Muratic acid and will try it next time.

fingers99 · May 12, 2008

Can't remember what gasses it gives off. Covell (who is doing a lecture tour of England!) recommends doing it outside.

Finalreminder · May 12, 2008

shenion said:
Cool, I have some Muratic acid and will try it next time.

Roll up a good length of tin foil tight, but it in a small plastic bottle.
Half fill with the acid.
Put lid on tight
Run!

weldequip · May 12, 2008

Oh, and a raging thirst

Positive side affects then!

weldequip

Biscayne · May 13, 2008

The reaction gives off Hydrogen, so no naked lights! Zinc Chloride is formed in the solution. The greater danger is the small amount of Hydrogen Chloride gas which evaporates from the acid, so good ventilation is essential.

fingers99 · May 15, 2008

Looks just like in the Covell video. Very good! I'll try and get some before the weekend.

That won't make a lot of sense. Replying to a post by Biscayne which seems to vanish! :confused:

Got my first taste of Zinc poisoning...

Finalreminder

Professional amateur

crayefish

Landy modifier extrodinaire

Dangle_kt

Member

snowcat

back in black

Satsuma

Member

shenion

Tool Pack Rat

fingers99

Member

Satsuma

Member

Biscayne

Member

Biscayne

Member

shenion

Tool Pack Rat

fingers99

Member

Finalreminder

Professional amateur

weldequip

Member

Biscayne

Member

fingers99

Member