What to do with extra galvanized steel pipe/rail?

[p0diabl0]

My wife and I took over a horse boarding facility a few years back. The previous owners left a lot of junk that we've been slowly cleaning up. Some of that included unserviceable (too corroded etc) corral panels - 24 feet long by about 5 feet tall. Ranges from 1 7/8 to 2 3/8 thick. I've been cutting up the ones that can't be salvaged and hoarding the non-rusted lengths (usually a few inches under 8 ft long). Recycling steel here barely covers gas money.

I know this stuff isn't strictly structural like some thicker walled material but to some extent that can be made up with just using more pieces. Anyone have any ideas or projects to use these for? We're in SoCal so with the lack of rain they tend to last a long time unless a horse is kicking them unch: Was thinking about making a non-vibrating screen for my Kubota L2501 but i'm not sure the pipes and my welding skills would be able to handle the forces involved. I'm not sure if any tractor implements would be wise given the thin walls.

 

[Industrial Toys]

I like to "TRY" and weld stuff with it. Once, set fire to myself wearing an old straggly jacket. Welders I know, avoid the stuff like the plague.

And BTW, the fumes are supposed to be poisonous.

 

[flyerdan]

If you keep your head in the cloud all day while welding it will make you a little queasy, but it's not going to kill you. If you weld outside just keep upwind, and if inside a box fan set up to vent should keep your face clear of the cloud.
I'd make me up some sawhorses if I had some of that laying around. Make a rack that will sit up next to a building and store it for later, it's good to have around. Maybe someday you'll need a ladder platform or something and it will be all racked up and ready.

 

[p0diabl0]

Good idea on the sawhorses - I always need more of those! No problems welding the stuff with my little FCAW, made plenty of repairs to the corral panels in use. As you say, unless you're totally not paying attention, as long as there's a semblance of a breeze it's never been a problem. I do have a rack (made of the same material!) that's holding about 100 lengths if I had to guess, as well as some spare corral doors, etc. I want to build another to make it easier to organize.

 

[Wagtail]

Good idea on the sawhorses.

A sawhorse also makes a good saddle stand. I'd then duct-tape an old pillow to the top for the saddle to rest on.

 

[EddieWalker]

Do you have any trees or plants that need protecting? or are you going to plant any that might get damaged by horses?

 

[mrmikey]

.....welding the stuff with my little FCAW......

You'd be better off with stick. The amount of spatter that flys off galvanized is unreal causng problems with contact tube and nozzle. As was said, stay upwind...............Mike

 

[3Ts]

If you're going to weld galvanized metal look up metal fume fever. I have heard, but cannot verify, that one person died from it, (so may or may not be true) but he was heavily into the zinc all day long.

 

[Industrial Toys]

My advice? Grab a little piece and try a "just for fun" weld and see if you want to consider using the stuff. I have buried galvanized stuff, even a whole headache rack, for use in electrical/lightning grounding.

 

[FTG-05]

If you're going to weld galvanized metal look up metal fume fever. I have heard, but cannot verify, that one person died from it, (so may or may not be true) but he was heavily into the zinc all day long.

Consider it verified:

His name was "Paw-Paw" over on Anvilfire.com; I was a member +20 years or so ago.

Zinc Metal Fume Fever : A Case Study : Blacksmithing How-to on anvilfire iForge