Nuts and bolts for welding

[woodlot]

I need a bit of knowlege please. I've got a project that I'm working on and it involves welding nuts onto rebar. Now I never done this before so I don't know what type of nut to use. I've read that welding galvinized metal is a no-no, the fumes will kill you, etc. Is it ok to weld the zinc plated nuts and bolts? I mean, isn't zinc what they use to galvinize stuff, so what the diffrence between "zinc plated" and "galvinized" as far as welding is concerned?

Also, will my little 100amp 110vac buzz box be able to weld a big honkin' nut onto the end of 1/2 rebar. I've got 5/64" 6013 rod. Thanks!

 

[RoyJackson]

I need a bit of knowledge please. I've got a project that I'm working on and it involves welding nuts onto rebar. Now I never done this before so I don't know what type of nut to use. I've read that welding galvanized metal is a no-no, the fumes will kill you, etc. Is it OK to weld the zinc plated nuts and bolts? I mean, isn't zinc what they use to galvanize stuff, so what the difference between "zinc plated" and "galvanized" as far as welding is concerned?

Also, will my little 100amp 110vac buzz box be able to weld a big honkin' nut onto the end of 1/2 rebar. I've got 5/64" 6013 rod. Thanks!

Zinc is what they use to galvanize. However, there are different kinds of zinc plating.

Welding galvanized can give you zinc poisoning which makes it tough to breath. Believe it not, milk is the cure...or, at least, alleviates the symptoms.

Zinc plate doesn't have the thickness of galvanized.
Here's a link that will tell you more then you'd ever want to know about both coatings.

As far as welding, you'll just be tacking the nuts on, so it's not like you'd be breathing the fumes continuously. Be in a well ventilated area so those fumes can dissipate rapidly. If you're not using a gas shielded welding method (TIG or MIG), set a fan close by blowing the fumes away.

 

[AlanB]

I cannot quite picture the project, but my answers would be.

Yes, the Zinc is what get's you, so try not to breathe any of it, Zinc coated, Zinc plated, Galvanized etc. It is all bad for you (as most any other welding fume) so try not to breathe it.

Nuts are available plain, and there are also special "weld nuts" available, that have little **** on them to give you welding space, and raised turned circles on them to center them in holes, which makes some projects much easier.

But, from the sound of it and especially where re-bar is involved, I would just say crank up the heat, keep your head out of the fumes, and go to town welding them on. Piece of tape over the threads sometimes keeps splatter out.

Good luck, and post a pic when you are done.

 

[Highbeam]

I've made quite a few large bolts out of allthread and buts. Both zinc plated of course. I've also welded quite a bit on galvanized metal pipe. It won't kill you, that's a wive's tale. It will make you feel badly if you inhale a lot of it but you are not supposed to inhale any of that smoke anyways.

Welding galvanized pipe is a little difficult because the thick coating burns weird and makes lots of cool green flash. Tough to get a good puddle going.

Welding the zinc plated stuff is buch easier with less contaminants in your puddle.

 

[woodlot]

I cannot quite picture the project

Picture a 6-8 foot long piece of 1/2" rebar with a big honkin' nut welded on the end. Kind of like a wierd lookin' lolly-pop. This is actually going to be used on my trap-line for beaver and otter trapping. It's part of a system that will prevent the critters for runnin' off with my traps. At 30 bucks each I kind of want to hang onto them.

Thanks for the replys. Sounds like the zinc coating is not going to kill me. I do weld outside too. The zinc coated nuts are the cheepest I can find, which is why I want to use them. I'm very new to welding, I got my little buzz box at a garage sale a month ago. I really enjoy using it. I see a MIG in my future.

PS - if anyone has any old animal traps hanging in thier barn that they want to get rid of, pm me. thanks.

 

[AlanB]

Is the nut really being used as a nut, or just a ring?

If just a ring, some metal houses have smooth rolled rings in mild steel that may work better for you.

 

[kenmac]

Also, will my little 100amp 110vac buzz box be able to weld a big honkin' nut onto the end of 1/2 rebar. I've got 5/64" 6013 rod. Thanks!


While not the ideal machine , it will do the job.If there's no stress on the nut , & while both rods are 60 K per sq.in. I would use 6011 rod for this job myself. You would have to breath alot more fumes than your going to breath welding that nut on to do any harm.

 

[Highbeam]

Figure that you'll be welding thick rebar to thick nut material so you want to use as much power as your welder can muster. I throw a lot of amps at the nut/bar connection since you really only get the one pass.

For some reason, I have a hard time welding to rebar. Maybe the coating.

 

[wdchyd]

Just a tip........submerge any plated fasteners (galv or zinc chromate) in muriatic acid. It will dissolve the coating in mere seconds and be ready for welding after a quick water rinse.

 

[yomax4]

Just a tip........submerge any plated fasteners (galv or zinc chromate) in muriatic acid. It will dissolve the coating in mere seconds and be ready for welding after a quick water rinse.

This is a good tip. The acid is cheap and a little goes a long way. I try to keep it off the threads but it's not always and issue. After rinse and weld you can re-galv with low cost galv sticks that you rub on right after welding while the material is still hot. Good Luck..