ever use galvinized sheet metal in your build????

well old Bob came by and dropped off 6 sheets ( more then enough) of 16 ga sheet metal....trying to help get Lil Beast a bit further ....issue is that it
has a gray coating, which i am ***umeing is galvinizing.....although it doesn't have the look like an old galvinized bucket....this coating is flat and smooth across the entire surface...says it's what he used for the floors of his 60 metropolitian resto...i was not around when that was done....

so i guess i'm looking for the answers......is it a good or bad thing to use for my flooring in the topo????issues with reaction to the other non-galvinized framing???? i realise i would have to gring off the coating anywhere it is to be welded......


pros???????????

cons??????????

 

I believe its not good to weld with as the fumes are highly toxic, I know its been covered on here several times in the past.

Here's one thread

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=102219&highlight=galvanised

 

that sounds more like that coating they cover metal for use in construction. i forgot what its called but im sure we're talking about the same thing, kind of a light grey almost like a primer look. i bought a bunch of that stuff last time i was at the steel yard, actually asked the guy is it was ok to weld and he said its safe to cut/weld. i say you're probably fine.

 

looks like this stuff right? ive been using this stuff for the past few months, no off-g***ing or toxic fumes here.

 

yes it looks just like that stuff...comes in odd size....maybe 6' long by 3 1/2' wide...i haven't measured it....so you grinding the coating off prior to welding.....or does it sand off????

Bob says it's been out at what used to be the familys farm.....his brother lives there now...but can't remember where his dad got it from...
ford plant he worked at probably, but doesn't know why it was there..i know that a few years back there must have been a good 30+ sheets out there...

.

 

We used that stuff in the sheet metal industry for making flashings and sheet metal that needed some corrosion resistance and could hold paint without the costly prep work required for galvanized metal. It has a lower mix of the zinc that is used in the galvanizing process, we called it metal etched but I know that is not right. It will hold paint and won't peel, can weld, bend but is hard to hammer form. I would use that stuff for floor boards, inside panels, brackets and braces, would not use it to form repair patches the dissimilar properties would make it hard for a finish weld.

 

Some PO used some galvanized sheet on my old Chevy. It was covering up this.

 

There is "Hot-Dip" or conventional galvanizing of the type used on a bucket and then there is "EG" or electrogalvanized. The EG coating is much thinner and consistent and is likely what you have. It is fine to weld although still needs to have the thin galavanized layer removed in the local area you are going to weld.

-EM

 

If the coating is any kind of gavanizing or zinc based coating be very careful. You dont always see off gasing yet it can still be toxic.
Another problem lies in the fact that many coatings have different heat properties that the steel sheet beneath. It is kind of like aluminum, is you dont clean off all of the aluminum oxide off of the aluminum, it is almost impossible to weld because the melt point of the oxide is higher than the aluminum itself. As soon as the coating melts the aluminum just blows out. Similar proprties with coated steels. The coating, like zinc or galv, dont weld well or strong but getting thru that to actually weld the steel beneath is hard.

Just cut up pieces and practice alot before you actually try it in place on the car. Weld it, bend it, pull it, try to crack it..just to see if it is working.

 

It has different names,Lock Bond,Paint Lock,Metal Etch,etc.,depends a lot on the manufacturer.I am retired after 37 years in the Sheet Metal industry and we welded and solderer many fittings made from those metals and galvanized.Welding galvanized metal can be a health hazard,you just need to be cautious,have good ventilation,and take your time as the coating will pollute your weld and can blow out nice HOT cherries that love to roll under a hard to reach part of your body!! ROY.

 

The name I call it is Paint Lock. It is use in the auto industry for body panels. Used to see alot of the stuff used at the Toyota plant for body parts. But always try a small piece to make sure the paint will stick. Can't be sure by a photo on the web if it is the same material. Good luck

 

thanks to all....basicly, i was figuring it for the flooring....not much to the topolino floor, but figured it would work well in the rear where the fuel tank will sit....no bending or forming required there..the front floorboards will have a small kick up to the firewall....but i'm talking sections under 14" wide...and about 21" long....guess i'll see how it cuts....alot of small triming to be done in the rear....

 

this would make sense, seeing as how Bob's dad worked at the Ford plant for over 30 years.....and explaing the odd for sheet stock dimension....

 

It bends and cuts just like the same gauge sheet metal,it will be perfect for your uses.Like any metal you need to prep it for paint. ROY.

 

It sounds like its either bonderized or galvanneal steel. These are the generic names for a couple of manufacturing processes applied at the mill to galvanized steel to improve finishing with corrosion resistance. Bonderizing is a phosphate conversion coating over the galvanize that provides for good paint adherence. It is often used in architectural/buildings for roofing, flashing, signage, rain gutters etc.
Galvanneal employs a special heat treatment after galvanizing that creates a zinc/iron coating. It too is used architecturally like steel doors, windows, signage, but is now predominate in modern automotive panels. It can be spot welded (probably resistance).

PRO
Both will work, both are corrosion resistant and hold paint well. Both are dull grey, (but galvaneal may show a little iron red in it),
CON
Left raw both can "storage stain" . Bonderize -so called white rust stain but it isn't rust. Gavaneal dark to light stain.
General welding issues are like galvanized, except the iron in galvanneal helps it spot weld better. If you break the surface when fastening, forming or bending there is a corrosion risk there.

 

I'm no expert, but I have heard of a guy that died by welding in a Galvinized sheet metal floor in his hot rod.

 

Don't weld on that stuff.
You'll get miserable results.

 

i use that stuff at work alot its called "paint lock" works great...

 

Galvanizing is another name for zinc. What you described could be zinc phosphate(not the same as zinc). Zinc phosphate is a common coating for steel sheet and it has very good corrosion resistance properties. And unlike zinc, zinc phosphate is a good base for painting.

 

Nobody has ever died from one welding over exposure to galvanized steel. Prior to that you would get symptoms close to food poisoning and end up in emrgency.
My brother inlaw had this happen after a full day welding galvanized metal in his closed garage back in the early 1970's. Ended up having to go to the hospital for it, and they gave him some medication and sent him home. He's in his late 70's now, and still kicking, so it seems no long term effect from that one over exposure.
If the area is ground clean, and you're welding with decent ventilation, you wont get galvanize poisoning. It only takes a small fan to blow the smoke away from you.

 

well there is always possibility.. let me explain.. if you have a allergic reaction you can die. rare? no clue.. but wanted to mention that..

with as much as my health is fubar, im glad i only have one allergic.. i cant have aspirin..


chris.

 

well last nite i started cutting off a few chunks of this stuff...lil bit for the floor in the 55' quarter midget , a few peices to play with for Lil Beast's floor......checked and it is 16ga...but i broke my new never been used before last nite Blue Point air shear gun....talk about po'ed......damn thing is supposed to do 16 ga.....snap off man will get this back this week....ruined my sat nite fabbin.........

 

Hey, aren't you glad you got your question cleared up?
We have now learned;
Use it.
Don't use it.
It's great.
It ****s.
You might die.
You'll be fine.
Solid info to use.

 

i gotta laugh my *** off!!!!!!!!!!!!...you're so right!!!!! what i call "Typical Hamb Board Info"............

on the serious side...i appricate all those who have saftey as their priorty,,,,

then i look at those who have had issues with it not welding well...hey this happens to me more then i want to confess

and i thank those who fall into all the other cl***ifications......

 

An old welding teacher from back in the day told us that the old welders would drink ****ermilk after welding galvanized. Supposedly this cleaned out the "junk" from your body. Not a doctor here just relating the story.

 

While I don't disagree with your description of the symptoms of mild over exposure to zink fumes from welding Galvanised Yes someone has indeed died from burning of galvanized iron. Along with being a weldor I have been a blacksmith for many years (Not a farrier/horse shoe-er) Paw Paw Wilson a very respected and knowledgeable blacksmith was burning off the zink coating off some material to forge in what he thought was a safe environment He died a few hours later from the over exposure So yes YOU CAN DIE from it.I spent 2 years welding structures from Cyclone Fence tubing with no immediate ill affects just practicing safe welding procedures Anvilfire web site has the story on it concerning Paw Paw,

 

I have read this many times even had a retired Navy welder tell me it was a requirement that milk was kept right at a weld site if Galvanized was involved and from what he said that was quite often the case.The one time I thought I need to use this "cure" it made me puke in about 2 minutes !I'm still here 20 years later don't know if it cured anything but it sure didn't hurt.I have asked different doctors about this and they don't agree with each other!Some say it works other say it's only an old welder tail!

 

well i been up and thru the galvi poisoning...i was a demo worker for over 20 years....got up inside of a huge air duct to cut it out in a ba*****t at the old St George hospital in cheviot....was sick all that nite and for 2 days after.....drank 3 gallons of milk...turned out there was a nasty membrane inside it and when i used the torch to melt it the fumes from it were worse then the gavi poisoning....

guess i should add a big thanks to all for the health advisorary....but i have the stuff to keep me healthy...just wondered about the "workability" of this type of sheet stock......

 

I have used it with great results..Just did not know the proper name for it.
Several pieces came in a mini tub kit that i bought from "hot rods to hell " as a part of their truck arm conversion kit.
Welds very nice and clean,and, 3 + years later.....the left over drops have still not shown any rust !
I use the drops for patch panels all the time..
Dave

 

I'm allergic to galvinized metal. There is an easy test I came up with. Drag a piece of galvinized window screen across your forearm, the cut edge. If you welp up big time, don't weld or grind on it. I found out the hard way.