If I wanted to weld some steel to piece of metal that has been galvenised could I just grind off the tin plate and weld as normal?

yes.clean up weld area and weld as normal but beware galv.[zinc] fumes are a bit nasty.good ventilation and a mask for jobs lasting for more than a few mins,or hold your breath weld it and leg it...

Agreed.

Fumes are toxic / poisionous. Not very nice.

Grind the galv away to bare steel. You can always paint it to protect it afterwards.

Yup. You get a stinking headache followed by flu like symptoms if you breath in lots of the fumes... Not nice.... (and can last quite a while)....

Yep be carefull. You can also us a high zinc cold galvanising paint after to stop the weld/area rusting.

Dan

As has been said, the fumes are very very nasty and can kill....

I would recomend wearing a proper charcole respirator.....

make sure you clean both sides of the galv steel as the heat will cause fumes from underneath!

We used to be given milk in the shipyards for some reason when working/welding with it, I've no idea how it was supposed to help but anyone welding with got a pint

Cheers
David

I believe the fumes to be non hazardous, eventhough they can give you metal fever ,resulting in ,as said, bad flu like sympthons lasting a couple of days.Deffo, do it outside if poss, or stick a vacuum cleaner close buy to take the fumes away.....dont be put off though...

I've read (somewhere) it can bring on a nasty asthma attack if you are susceptible. I suppose it could kill in that case, but mostly it's just like having flu.

Makes your cigs taste funny.

Don't breath in the grinding dust either.

Powdered zinc is as bad as the fume.

Do it outside and stand upwind.


Paul G

ive had a look in the Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards at work and this is what it says about welding galv.
Symptoms= Manganism; asthenia, insomnia, mental confusion; metal fume fever: dry throat, cough, chest tightness, dyspnea (breathing difficulty), rales, flu-like fever; low-back pain; vomiting; malaise (vague feeling of discomfort); lassitude (weakness, exhaustion); kidney damage

yes and the last one so wear a mask lol
adam

OK, I see that I need to take care.

Thanks
Steve

If it's for a ten minute job then I wouldn't worry, we only start to consider forced ventilation if you are welding galv for extended periods.