I don't have much money but would like to learn welding. I went to a local scrapyard and bought a few bits of what I assumed was just steel. Luckly I do all my training outside. I only reaentify d about how dangerous galvanised steel was after I had tried welding some. Is there a way to identify galvanised steel. I know if it has a honeycomb pattern on it. Then it's galvanised. But is there another way to identify in a scrapyard?
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brightspark
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it wont be rusty
cheb
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it wont be rusty
That, and it won't look like stainless steel.
Barking Mat
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Galvanised steel, isn't rusty, and the finish is well 'galvanized'.
If it looks like this you can assume it's galvanised.
Also it stinks when you weld it.
If it looks like this you can assume it's galvanised.
Also it stinks when you weld it.
Kram
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Its unpleasant but not dangerous, the fume fever is temporary. Wearing a p3 filter mask will stop any zinc fume and allow welding it without any issue.
KemppiFrog
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If you carry a little bottle of hydrochloric acid, put a drop on a corner of the metal, if galv, it will bubble and fizz a bit. They sell litre bottles of acid here in the supermarkets.
Stainless won't react, nor plain steel or ally.
Stainless won't react, nor plain steel or ally.
Wildefalcon
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If you use a flap disk, or a finger file to clean the surface, as you should, then the galv layer doesn't spark, the steel will give off bright sparks.
See the shiny steel on the left on this assembly, that's galv that's been taken off for a half inch from where I was expecting to weld.
Galv 'flu can be dangerous, don't weld unless you are fully protected.
See the shiny steel on the left on this assembly, that's galv that's been taken off for a half inch from where I was expecting to weld.
Galv 'flu can be dangerous, don't weld unless you are fully protected.
Thanks for info. I beleive I have had that too.
outofthefire
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This is hot dipped, cold dipped is just plain grey, doesn't have the pattern
Old galv has the flakey looking appearance as in one of the photographs. This tends to be older material as its the lead content that creates that effect. Modern galvanising has less lead.
When you go looking for steel, if you take a piece of course abrasive with you, when you rub it on galv it will go silvery looking but also the galv will offer less resistance to do. Try it on mild steel and a piece of galv and you will see the difference.
By the way, the galv that contains more lead is better at stopping corrosion.
Also, if you are going to weld something that has been galvanised, grind away the galv to leave clean steel. When you grind the galv it is silvery in colour where mild steel is more grey. Grind the galv off for at least the width of the welds it may spit and contaminate the weld - especially on the edges.
When you go looking for steel, if you take a piece of course abrasive with you, when you rub it on galv it will go silvery looking but also the galv will offer less resistance to do. Try it on mild steel and a piece of galv and you will see the difference.
By the way, the galv that contains more lead is better at stopping corrosion.
Also, if you are going to weld something that has been galvanised, grind away the galv to leave clean steel. When you grind the galv it is silvery in colour where mild steel is more grey. Grind the galv off for at least the width of the welds it may spit and contaminate the weld - especially on the edges.
