Customs is there a way to chemically strip zinc plating??

i'm wanting to build a tube grille, and i was thinking of going to home depot and getting some conduit to build it from. i know conduit is zinc coated, and i've used it before for some car stuff,,basically, i just ground away the zinc coating,,in this case, i don't want to grind it, as i will be getting the tubing plated when it's done..don't want all those grinding marks (obviously)..is there some other way to strip away the zinc?

 

HCl ((hydrochloric acid) muriatic acid) reacts with zinc. It'll fiz like mad when submerged. It will need to be rinsed and neutralized immediately after it's removed or it will flash rust.

Edit: do this away from all your other metal projects (i.e., outside) because stuff nearby will be prone to rust, as well.

 

Zinc applied as a corrosion protection will gradually react w/moisture and oxygen present. There may be additional ways of reacting and removing the Zinc. (Galvanizing is one description for the Zinc applied as a grey protective coat)

 

Jim it's got to be easier to just go to a metal supply place and buy some tube no?

 

Neutralize by washing with baking soda.

 

Jim, you can find regular round steel tubing in .035" or .065" wall thickness in the smaller 3/8" to 1" O.D. fairly easily. Westbrook can get it for you if they don't have any in stock. Cost would be only be a bit more per stick than galvanized conduit but you won't have to worry about stripping the coating off. Believe me, metal fume fever from inhaling that shit is the worst, ask me how I know.

Jeremy

 

yeah.....after i posted this, i realized it WOULD probably just be a LOT easier to go and buy some tubing from a metal supply place..

 

Or buy stainless tubing and polish to a Chrome like finish.
By skipping the chrome plating the cost would be similar.