Using Galvanized Steel

[QuanLoi]

Well, I must say, I'm no metal expert.  But when I build an iron mounted rifle, I like to use a length of galvanized steel for making side plates.  The steel I get is from Home Depot and is 7/64" thick... for me, perfect thickness for a side plate.  In order to dissolve the zinc coating the steel, I immerse it in Kodak Indicator Stop bath which is 85-90% acetic acid.  The stuff is extremely inexpensive, and a good alternative to hydrochloric acid.



The piece on the right sat in the stop bath for 24 hours


After the zinc has been removed, the metal is capable of being browned.

[smallpatch]

I think you can buy mild steel there as well. Save a step?

[QuanLoi]

I think you can buy mild steel there as well. Save a step?

Well, if they had it... I would have bought it.

[Ron Scott]

Onlinemetals has about any type of metal you might need and ships at moderate rates.

[P.W.Berkuta]

Also check your local welding shop or supply house .

[Daniel Coats]

I used to use a piece of painted angle iron from a bed frame for side plates and trigger guards. I never bothered to strip it since all traces of it's origin went away during the re-purposing process.

[Tim Crosby]

 Heat it red hot and it will burned it off.

   Tim C.

[Hungry Horse]

Burning galvanizing off is a good way to cancel your own ticket. It got my father in law, who wouldn’t take the risks seriously.

  Hungry Horse

[bob in the woods]

Burning galvanizing off is a good way to cancel your own ticket. It got my father in law, who wouldn’t take the risks seriously.

  Hungry Horse

Ditto.   It's a bad idea !

[alyce-james]

Hungry Horse; Sir, the information you just shared with the ALF members is by far the best shared information (truest) I've seen on this site. One of the first basics a welder learn. Welding hood around face and fumes under hood its over. I must qualify , I have seen wilding areas with special venting air vacuum systems. Still not self. Have a great week. AJ.

[45-110]

Finding un-plated mild steel flat stock should be easy anywhere in America. A "good" hardware store generally has a selection, farm and ranch stores have steel stock-sheet, and then the steel suppliers generally have a drop bin of small pieces to pick through. I am in nowhere land in Montana and can get un-plated material here with no big effort. Cannot imagine otherwise.
kw

[Machinist John]

I may be new to the forum but I have over 50 years experience in the Machining, Fabrication and Welding Trades.  Pay attention to what the guys are saying.

Leave the galvanized metal in the store.

Any steel supplier has mild steel in any size you want.


Even Ebay.  Search for steel flat bar in the size you need.

I am working with some 1/8" x 1-1/2" steel flat bar today in the shop.     Cutting to length, drilling, welding and painting.  Bought it on Ebay in 6 foot lengths, it was here in 3 days.

[mountainman]

i would have never thought of using galvanize steel. But at the same time I was not aware what burning galvanized steel does to you, which I'm guessing is harmful to your lungs, from what I'm reading from the above comments, but then I never worked in a welding shop, but I heard of guys having bad lungs from working in those environments.

[alyce-james]

The best steel supplier, and the location is next to almost all of us. Salvage yards with anything you are looking for and than some. I think an old car body would have steel enough to build five or more complete long rifles. AJ.

[Hungry Horse]

 The toxins that you breath when burning galvanized metal are deadly, and not always noticeable in small doses. A lot of doctors today don’t think of this when you come in with some nonspecific symptoms. This is what happen to my father in law. They notice his body was deficient in vitamin D. Anybody that knew him knew he got enough exposure to sunlight to not suffer such a deficiency. A couple of days later he just collapsed. He went into total renal shutdown and it was over.

  Hungry Horse

[Tim Crosby]

Burning galvanizing off is a good way to cancel your own ticket. It got my father in law, who wouldn’t take the risks seriously.

  Hungry Horse

  @!*%! I never knew that, I've been doing it for years! Guess I'll find another way. Thanks

     Tim C.

[Daniel Coats]

Açcording to GOOGLE

Likewise, how do you remove galvanized metal? Remove Galvanization

Step 1: Supplies. for this instructable you will need: vinegar.
Step 2: Soak It. First, fill your bowl with vinegar, then put in the piece of metal from which you want to remove the zinc. Its that simple.
Step 3: Brush It. After the half hour has passed, take out the piece of no-longer-galvanized metal.

[flinchrocket]

Then, you have toxic vinegar to get rid of. Just buy mild steel and save yourself the trouble.

[galudwig]

What possible advantage is there to 1/64" less material thickness on a side plate? Krikey, if you think 1/8" mild steel is too thick, heat it up and hammer it thinner. At least you won't be risking your health with that process.

[Sawfiler]

Not going to argue that metal fume fever from zinc is not harmful, but I do think the effects have been overstated on this thread. Short term exposure without adequate ventilation can cause fever and chills which go away in a few days. I do not think it would be fatal without some other comorbidity. I own a welding shop and we frequently weld galvanized metal.

I will also agree that buying mild steel is probably the better option in this case.

[QuanLoi]

Interesting information, all.  Here on Long Island, my source of "mild steel" is somewhat limited and my local Home Depot carries none that I can find.  My reliance on galvanized steel is because of that.  The reason I posted the use of stop bath as a means of removing galvanization was to inform of a possible alternative to burning it off.  The acetic acid smells foul but works great for that purpose.  Just thought I'd share that information...

[davec2]

I agree completely with Sawfiler.  I have torch cut and welded tons of heavily galvanized steel over the last 50 years.  Just some adequate ventilation and care is all that is required to be perfectly safe.  A little zinc oxide is NOT hydrogen cyanide and the effects are definitely overstated here.  (Seems like everyone is afraid of everything these days and automatically takes things to the extreme.)  As Sawfiler notes, over exposure to zinc oxide fumes results in a condition called the "zinc chills" (also called metal fume fever as the condition can be caused by other metals as well).  While the symptoms do go away in a day or so by themselves, you can make them go away in a few minutes by drinking a glass of whole milk.  I know this for a fact because I have had the zinc chills a few times over the years.  And, by the way, the last time I had the chills, I didn't have a cold or flu for seven years afterward......(think "Zicam")

Just my $0.02

[Ky-Flinter]

Let's stay on topic gentlemen.

-Ron

[Not English]

Ron, Saw filer and Dave are spot on regarding galvanized. The safety police are over reacting to galvanized metal fumes. Common sense and practice goes a long ways towards safe practices. As a former welder with 50 yrs. experience, they are right. The last few comments are germane to the discussion once safety was brought in to the original question.

Dave

[Pukka Bundook]

For those who live in rural areas, a farm sale will provide probably tons of scrap iron and steel, at a near give-away price.
I have a scrap pile, and that is my "parts department".
We used to chuck a piece of zinc-coated steel into the fireplace occasionally back home, as it removes the soot from the chimney!
(Coal fire)