I need to weld galvinised steel and when I do heaps of white colored fumes come off the steel
Is this poisnous? what precautions should i take?
by the way i use an arc welder with normal steel electrodes
any comments will be greatly apreacated
thanks
and also will the weld be as strong as a normal weld? , if its not what should i do?
Welding galvanized steels is extremely health hazardous because of the Zinc-Oxide fumes which generally appear pure white as you described in your post. These fumes will stay in your system until the day you pass on so my personal counsel is to avoid doing it! Would it be possible to galvanize your part after welding? Another option is to use spray cans of "cold-galv." which I started using for the afore mentioned reasons.
If you absolutly must weld on galvanized steels, do so out-doors, if possible and wear a respirator. If you start to feel nauxious, stop immediatley and consult a physician! OSHA may also have more information on this if you contact your nearest office.
Hope this helps.
Dutch
Thanks for your reply i apreciated it
yeh i have got a thing like a resoprator but it dosent have a filter they are just made out of a fiberus material and i will use a fan blowing directly on the job
i only have to make about 7 welds so i should be right
will this be enough?
thanks
Check this out
http://www.welding.org/newsletters/winter97/cary.html
When ya gotta do it, I recomend using a fan to blow the fumes away from you, breathing the fumes should be avoided if you value your health. Another thing they thought us in the air force in the '70's drink milk to keep you from getting noshious (spelling?). Proper ventallation!
By Nate
Date 10-26-2001 18:04
We used to weld galvanized grating and structure. 6010 electrodes performed better for me. Some liked 7018. If you can grind the coating away where the weld will be, it'll help. Burn it hotter than normal. And like the others have said, avoid as much fumes as possible. It never bother me much(maybe long term it will), but some would miss the next day, complaining of flu like symptoms. They say milk helps.
Stop this kind of welding!!! You are in danger. Visit your medic ASAP!!!
This kind of welding is extremly hazardous. The coated plate surface contains Zn and Pb. The ZnO
vapors can damage your lung very easily.
You must use welding helmet with active coal respirator. It could be usefull if
you use some torch with respirator system.
regards Geza Burik, EWE, Hungary
Geza,
Do you mean active charco filter? But if he is working out side, its done all the time.
Some suppliers - ESAB, etc ... - can deliver special welding helmets where
the filter unit is on the back of the welder, and by using of flexible tube is connected
with the helmet. It has a small fan which delivers the cleaned air to welder inside the
helmet. I have experience about this from Hungary, Europe where the Siemens
welded hot dipped plates together for transformator tanks.
Check out www.esab.com for more info.
Regards Geza
I may be wrong but, I've welded enough galvanized with no ill effects. It's good to give wanings but you shouldn't try to panic people
There is alot to be said about welding galvanized steel. Most has already been listed in previous posts, but not everything. I own a welding business and this reply comes from experience, education and consultation with my welding engineer. First, remove as much of the coating as possible before welding. 2) Use a 6010 or 6011 electrode with a whipping motion. This will help to volatilize the remaining zinc in front of the weld. This is important to reduce the porosity and potential cracking. 3) Zinc fumes are toxic. Period. Use proper ventilation and if necessary a respirator or SCBA. It is believed that drinking milk prior to welding galvanized steel will coat the stomach and allow the zinc to pass through your system. Apparently it is more swallowed than inhaled. This however is out of area of experience and is best answered by someone else.
Respectfully,
Mike Sherman
Sherman Welding
