Galvanize

[SlimJim]

Originally Posted by gaia

Sad to hear this.

My illness has also been triggered by zinc fume fever - altho I was wearing a respirator at the time - and only recently had the strength to start welding again.

Glad to here you are getting your strength back. How did you get sick if you had a respirator, was it not working properly or is this always a possibility?

[Tom Zachman]

PawPaw's Artistic work website: http://www.pawpawsforge.com/practical/prtpgh1.htm

Look for:

But when I start putting the stripes on Christ's back, I also start to cry. Happens every time.

[Franz]

Jim's funeral will begin at 5pm on 16 May. If you have an anvil, let it ring to send him off.

[Blown 4.3]

sorry for your loss, Franz.

[john pen]

Sorry for the loss of your friend Franz....

[gaia]

How did you get sick if you had a respirator

I've welded a lot of galvanized last year, always with a respirator even when outside, no problem. Maybe I did'nt fit it properly - all I know was I've been going at it for 10-15 mins, then started to get all hot and flushy, ran outside; dizzy as hell, vomiting, coughing. It felt like some of the zinc deposited on the parts of my face not covered by the respirator - I ran my finger across my eyelid and it tasted bitter.

I probably should have known better. It was in an enclosed space with no ventilation at all.

I've sworn to myself never to weld galvanized again.

[rasommer2002]

Originally Posted by gaia

I've welded a lot of galvanized last year, always with a respirator even when outside, no problem. Maybe I did'nt fit it properly - all I know was I've been going at it for 10-15 mins, then started to get all hot and flushy, ran outside; dizzy as hell, vomiting, coughing. It felt like some of the zinc deposited on the parts of my face not covered by the respirator - I ran my finger across my eyelid and it tasted bitter.

I probably should have known better. It was in an enclosed space with no ventilation at all.

I've sworn to myself never to weld galvanized again.

Sorry to hear about your illness. I hope you feel better soon. My neighbor bought a cheap HF flux core mig system awhile back and in all his enthusiasm he welded everything in sight -- including his galvanized chain link fence. I explained the problem and my advice was ignored. I've stayed away from galvanized because the stories I hear are just horrible. As for your experience, is it possible that the toxins can be absorbed through bare skin? If that's the case then only a full haz-mat suit and a fresh air supply would suffice for these projects.

Ray

[storts]

Originally Posted by Franz

Jim's funeral will begin at 5pm on 16 May. If you have an anvil, let it ring to send him off.

What a touching story,,My and Joann's condolences to the family,and to you and your mentor,Nothing more to be said,Jack and Joann Connors

Sorry to hear that Franz. Tragic, preventable loss.

Being that I have a swimming pool, I always have a couple of gallons of muriatic acid on hand. On the rare occasions when I've had to weld galvanized, I used the muriatic outside to strip the zinc from the weld areas and somewhat beyond first, and I stay upwind when doing it and use protective equipment. Then I flush it with water & sodium bicarb or soda ash to neutralize any residual acid. I used to grind it off, but decided that putting zinc dust in the air wasn't a smart thing to do. I'm not sure I get it all this way, but I do get most of it.

[rusted]

Man that's terrible.

My very first weld beads ever were on galvanized plate that I didn't clean off. Lucky for me it was outside. I got lucky.

I'll never touch the stuff, it's chilling to hear about how bad it is, then see this happen even to an old pro.