Weld black pipe or galvanized

[vmarc]

Not long ago a very experienced blacksmith from Anvilfire died burning Gal. off pipe in his forge.I knew you could get sick from the fumes,but this kicks it up a few notches.Be careful with that stuff.I think ventilation may be the most important thing.

 

[john_bud]

Just barely, I try my best.



Thanks for the tip, I'll store it with my stockpile of carbon tet and DDT and use them all judiciously.

Further study has shown that DDT wasn't the bad actor it was portrayed to be by Rachal Carson in her book Silent Spring. In fact, the banning of DDT has led to 1/2 -1 million deaths from malaria and other insect born diseases PER YEAR for the past 35 years. I'd rather ride my bike thru a fog of DDT (like I did as a kid way back when) than touch the HF.


On topic, I have seen medical reports that indicate that breathing fumes from galvanized does give physiological problems, but they are short term and of no lasting impact. Certainly not fatal. The incident with the person burning off galvanization in his forge may have been mis-reported (gasp!) or he had something other than galvanized pipe or something in the pipe from a previous use.

Here is some info zn

-------------

Zinc Fumes -- A Safety Hazard?
When zinc vapor mixes with the oxygen in the air, it reacts instantly to become zinc oxide. This is the same white powder
that you see on some noses at the beach and the slopes. Zinc oxide is non-toxic and non carcinogenic. Extensive research1
into the effects of zinc oxide fumes has been done, and although breathing those fumes will cause welders to think that they
have the flu in a bad way, there are no long-term health effects. Zinc oxide that is inhaled is simply absorbed and eliminated
by the body without complications or chronic effects. Current research2 on zinc oxide fumes is concentrated in establishing
the mechanism by which zinc oxide causes "metal fume fever," how its effects are self-limiting and why zinc oxide fume
effects ameliorate after the first day of exposure even though the welder may continue to be exposed to zinc during subsequent
days ("Monday-morning fever"). Other research3 is being done using zinc oxide fumes together with various drugs which
results in a synergetic effect for treatment of cancer and AIDS. Another area of research is use of zinc compounds as the active
ingredients in throat lozengers that are recognized as significantly effective in reducing the duration and intensity of the
common cold.
Typical “metal fume fever” begins about 4 hours after exposure, and full recovery occurs within 48 hours. The symptoms
include fever, chills, thirst, headache and nausea. All of these symptoms, pain and suffering, as well as lost work (and play)
time, can be avoided entirely by simply not inhaling the zinc oxide fumes. This can easily be done using any of the
methods described later.
Unlike other heavy metals, such as copper, lead and mercury, zinc is an essential micro nutrient. Zinc is essential to the
proper growth of plants and animals. Zinc forms part of the enzyme system that regulates biological processes throughout the
body. As shown on any multi-vitamin/mineral bottle, the recommended minimum adult intake is 15 mg/day.

1Walsh, Sandstead, Prasad, Newberne and Fraker, Environmental Health Perspectives, Volume 102, Supplement 2,
June 1994, 5-46. Provides summary plus 471 references.
2 Kuschner,D'Alessandro, et. al., Pulmonary Responses to Purified Zinc Oxide Fumes, Journal of Investigative
Medicine, 1995:43:371-378.
3Robert Sabin, Zinc Activated Profile, COPE, March/April 1995: 16,17

 

[Maine_Polack]

You are right Egon. I know better than to assume every dumbas$ would think to open their 16' garage door and turn their 24" fan on to weld anything inside ... like I did. It was (PLUS) 50°F last night and the breeze from the fan felt good as well as blowing the fumes on to my neighbor's land
I'd like to meet some of those fellers you know that aren't affected by fumes and buy them a drink

I use a lot of junk metal. Have welded a bunch of galv. and do so either outside, with a fan, or at the garage door, with an open door on other end of the garage, and still use the fan, no matter what the temperature is. I believe that galv. is bad stuff......

When temps. are moderate, I pretty much use the fan for all welding.

 

[cp1969]

I use a lot of junk metal. Have welded a bunch of galv. and do so either outside, with a fan, or at the garage door, with an open door on other end of the garage, and still use the fan, no matter what the temperature is. I believe that galv. is bad stuff......

When temps. are moderate, I pretty much use the fan for all welding.

Even gas shielded?

 

[Maine_Polack]

Sorry...I should have specified. I have only one welder and it is "stick"...

 

[Egon]

Ah - ha a real welder!

 

[dbdartman]

I can't begin to guess how much galvanized steel I've welded in the last 27-28 years, but the results of welding galvanized has always been the same: NOTHING. No "...fever, chills, thirst, headache and nausea...", NOTHING.

Guess it's true what Mom always said, "No sense, no feeling."

Jimbrown, 1.25" square tube shouldn't be hard to find. I've cut & fabbed literally thousands of feet of the stuff.

 

[thingy]

As soon as your born,your dying,,just a question of time,good thing we don't know when,,no need rushing it,but than on the other hand..............thingy

 

[bcarwell]

Further study has shown that DDT wasn't the bad actor it was portrayed to be by Rachal Carson in her book Silent Spring. In fact, the banning of DDT has led to 1/2 -1 million deaths from malaria and other insect born diseases PER YEAR for the past 35 years. I'd rather ride my bike thru a fog of DDT (like I did as a kid way back when) than touch the HF.


On topic, I have seen medical reports that indicate that breathing fumes from galvanized does give physiological problems, but they are short term and of no lasting impact. Certainly not fatal. The incident with the person burning off galvanization in his forge may have been mis-reported (gasp!) or he had something other than galvanized pipe or something in the pipe from a previous use.

Here is some info zn

-------------

Zinc Fumes -- A Safety Hazard?
When zinc vapor mixes with the oxygen in the air, it reacts instantly to become zinc oxide. This is the same white powder
that you see on some noses at the beach and the slopes. Zinc oxide is non-toxic and non carcinogenic. Extensive research1
into the effects of zinc oxide fumes has been done, and although breathing those fumes will cause welders to think that they
have the flu in a bad way, there are no long-term health effects. Zinc oxide that is inhaled is simply absorbed and eliminated
by the body without complications or chronic effects. Current research2 on zinc oxide fumes is concentrated in establishing
the mechanism by which zinc oxide causes "metal fume fever," how its effects are self-limiting and why zinc oxide fume
effects ameliorate after the first day of exposure even though the welder may continue to be exposed to zinc during subsequent
days ("Monday-morning fever"). Other research3 is being done using zinc oxide fumes together with various drugs which
results in a synergetic effect for treatment of cancer and AIDS. Another area of research is use of zinc compounds as the active
ingredients in throat lozengers that are recognized as significantly effective in reducing the duration and intensity of the
common cold.
Typical “metal fume fever” begins about 4 hours after exposure, and full recovery occurs within 48 hours. The symptoms
include fever, chills, thirst, headache and nausea. All of these symptoms, pain and suffering, as well as lost work (and play)
time, can be avoided entirely by simply not inhaling the zinc oxide fumes. This can easily be done using any of the
methods described later.
Unlike other heavy metals, such as copper, lead and mercury, zinc is an essential micro nutrient. Zinc is essential to the
proper growth of plants and animals. Zinc forms part of the enzyme system that regulates biological processes throughout the
body. As shown on any multi-vitamin/mineral bottle, the recommended minimum adult intake is 15 mg/day.

1Walsh, Sandstead, Prasad, Newberne and Fraker, Environmental Health Perspectives, Volume 102, Supplement 2,
June 1994, 5-46. Provides summary plus 471 references.
2 Kuschner,D'Alessandro, et. al., Pulmonary Responses to Purified Zinc Oxide Fumes, Journal of Investigative
Medicine, 1995:43:371-378.
3Robert Sabin, Zinc Activated Profile, COPE, March/April 1995: 16,17

Thanks JohnBud. That is the report I was referring to in my earlier append.

Bob

 

[Redball]

I have worked in a metal fab shop and would recomend using a resperator when welding on galvenized even after you think you have cleaned it from the joint and have good ventilation. Another welder in my shop decided to skip the resperator one day when the forman was out of the shop. 2 hours later he got a case of metal flu that included nearly passing out and coughing up blood, plus two days lost wages.

_____________________________________________________________________________________

"There is no problem that can't be solved with adequate applications of brute strength and ignorance !"