Working with Galvanized metal / Zinc Poisoning

[woodlandfarms]

OK, so I have to say you guys have freaked me out (for years) about Zink poisoning. To the point I wont work on Galvanized. But now the time is to learn how to work with the stuff.

So what does it take to get poisoned? The scenario I am currently working with is that I have to cut a 12" galvanized culvert up. I was going to use a cuttoff or my plasma. I am doing this under a carport. Open wall, just a roof.

I also have some galvanized angle iron I need to weld.

Is a wiff of the smoke coming off going to get me, or is it all day exposure that brings you down? Running a fan is an option, but tends to mess with Mig pretty bad.

Love all insight on this.

 

[Rock knocker]

Is a wiff of the smoke coming off going to get me, or is it all day exposure that brings you down?

Much more likely to be the latter than the former.

 

[lilranch2001]

This is what Wiki says....
Prevention[edit]

Prevention of metal fume fever in workers who are at potential risk (such as welders) involves avoidance of direct contact with potentially toxic fumes, improved engineering controls (exhaust ventilation systems), personal protective equipment (respirators), and education of workers regarding the features of the syndrome itself and proactive measures to prevent its development.

 

[dragoneggs]

Get yourself a good quality respirator and a set yourself up so a light breeze from a large fan to take the fumes away from you if you need to... I use a 2ft fan in my shop window and keep the garage door wide open. This causes a gentle flow away from me and the work. I looked at the weld fume extractors but these are pricey and I don't do enough to justify. Was thinking how I could use my large wood dust collector but I'm afraid I would create a bigger problem mixing dusts?

 

[ray66v]

Relax, take some minor precautions, and you should be fine.

Though I don't recommend it, many people I have worked with, welded galvanized all day, without any extra protection, and suffered no effect from it. Everyone's different.

As suggested, a light flow of air away from you is going to do the trick, especially if you are not in an enclosed area.

Turn up your shielding gas flow to compensate for the wind, if necessary. You can also use fluxcore. I have welded in some pretty good winds, with fluxcore wire.

You should use a charcoal respirator. If it is fitted properly, you can use it for about 40 hours of welding, and be assured you will not be affected. Disposable ones are less than $30. Keep it in a sealed bag or container, when not using it. As soon as you start to get a stale beer smell, or any different odor, when you put it on, it's been used up. Once the charcoal is used up it's only as good as a dust mask; chemicals will go right through it.

 

[Shield Arc]

Working marine construction most of my life. We would get a steady diet of working with galvanized steel. Welding it never bothered me, but cutting it with a torch would make me sick. Next day good as new!
Hobart's 21-B self shielded wire works really good on galvanized steel.
Here read this!

 

[Rustyiron]

SA didn't say that he now has 3 ears and an extra leg:laughing:
Kidding SA, use common sense, work outdoors, dont stand above your smoke. A cut off wheel might make a little less fumes than your plasma.:confused3:

 

[Shield Arc]

SA didn't say that he now has 3 ears and an extra leg:laughing:

Have we met?

 

[lilranch2001]

sounds like a bromance

 

[yomax4]

If you get nausea then you have been infected. Milk is the cure. There are a lot of variables with galvanized. Type, Thickness and make up. all matters on how long it takes to make you throw up. Not sure yet what happens 20 years from then. I can't imagine torching that crap but if you grind, you can do ok. If you use a respirator it has to be suitable for galvanized or it won't help. I weld it all the time and just try not to suck any in and that works ok.