Is is galvanized?

[NewMexSmoke]

Greetings all.

New to welding and metal fab work. Kind of lucked into a bunch of equipment my employer was getting rid of for cheap. Now I'm learning and doing this as a hobby.

I'm currently building an offset firebox, vertical meat smoker. For grates I plan to weld some expanded steel to a frame. I am well aware that galvanized steel should be avoided for this project due to the health risks ralted to a) cutting and welding the expanded metal, and b) contact with the food I'm smoking.

I've obtained the expanded metal and was assured by the supplier that is was not galvanized. It doesn't look like it is galvanized in the way, say a galvanized trash can looks. It has the appearance of cold rolled steel. I did not note any noxious fumes when cutting it with a torch or when welding to the grate frame.

But, prior to firing the smoker up for the first time, is there a way, short of appearance, to determine if a piece of steel is galvanized.

Any assistance would be appreciated.

[dabar39]

If it's galvanized it should have a dull grayish finish and besides that I personally have never seen galvanized expanded, do they even make any?. When you hit it with a torch, plasma, or welder you will know immediately as the galvanized burns a different greenish color and also you will see a white chalky residue left where you had heat. Dave

[6010]

That residue Dave is talking about will sometimes look like ashes from a fire. Other than what Dave said I don't know how you could tell. I do know there are sites on the INTERNET that have directions for building smokers out of galvanized trash cans. I wondered about that maybe being a bad material to make a smoker out of, but all the warnings about galvanized I have heard of are the fumes given off during welding being toxic. But I don't declare to be an expert on galvanized by any means. I have seen a lot of it welded as it is often used for grating and stairs for outdoor use. After welding the welds were coated with a galvanized looking coating that came in a spray can - can't remember the name now.

I think I will take a google and see what I can find,

[NewMexSmoke]

Is it galvanized?

Thanks for the info. Cuttings from the expanded metal have no chalky residue. Just a nice clean rainbow coloration adjacent to the where the torch passed by. Other than that, pretty clean. The only smoke coming off when I was cutting and welding was from the light oil coating I beleive.

[dabar39]

Sounds like plain ole' mild steel to me. Dave

6010, sounds like you are talking about a can of Zinc-Weld primer

[Jim-TX]

Thanks for the info. Cuttings from the expanded metal have no chalky residue. Just a nice clean rainbow coloration adjacent to the where the torch passed by. Other than that, pretty clean. The only smoke coming off when I was cutting and welding was from the light oil coating I beleive.

Welcome to the forum NM and it's not galvanized if it was clean after cutting. The prior posts are correct in that galvanized will smoke like (you know what) and leave the white residue. I have worked a little bit of galvanized pipe for gates and if you stay out of the smoke and don't do much you can get by with it but I'd never use it for cooking related uses.

[Anti-GMAW]

It's alright to weld galvinized just as long as you don't breath any of it. Keeping your head out of the fumes is generaly good enough on small projects but it's best to wear at the very minimum a half mask with the proper filters. If you do breath it you will have the worst flu like pains in your life. In order to stop them drink lots and lots of milk as this negates the efects (don't ask me why). It's realy not somthing to be to woried about when welding and cuting on small items as long as you take the neccesary precations. And welcome to the forum.

[KBar]

Like Dave said, I dont believe expanded metal comes in galvanized. It will get white and chalky by heating and if you get it hot enough, it starts popping so make sure you have a helmet or good glasses on.

Years ago I used to torch a lot of galvanized storm sewer pipe in the trenches without any protection so apparently, smelling the fumes isnt too bad for your health. I think Im normal

[Jolly Roger]

I have seen galvanized exp, but it was on stuff that was built first and then galvanized. The stuff in the can is called cold galvanizing compound and is made by several companies including rustoleum and can be purchased at lowes and home depot. I hate the stuff.

[Jolly Roger]

Welcome to the forum New Mex. I grew up in the southeast corner in Lovington. That's just north of Hobbs. Once you take a torch to galv you will be able to recognize it instantly, smokes, pops, and doesn't cut well at all. It's gray. If it's blue or rusty it isn't galv.

[Bert]

I guess coming from Hawaii, we buy expanded metal already galvanized. Nasty, nasty stuff to work with, glad you bought the right stuff!
Welcome to the board
bert

[NewMexSmoke]

Thanks for all of the input. I was pretty sure I didn't have any galvanized materials but everyones comments have put my mind at ease. I've completed all of the fabrication on the smoker and today will drill the holes for the thermometers, clean and paint. Will probably test fire next weekend.

Thanks again.

[Bert]

NEWMEX, uhh....pictures??????????

[NewMexSmoke]

Working on the pictures Bert. Can't find the darn digital camera.

Ran the test fire and seasoning yesterday for a good 3 hours at 300-350 degrees. All went well pretty well. I was pleased to find that it was easy to maintain that temp with only 1 load of charcoal. I've got two thermometers into the smoke chamber, one at the bottom 1/4 and one at the top 1/4. Interestingly there was no noticable temperature difference.

Only problem was the top/front door to the fire box kind of "sprung" when it got hot. I kind of expected this might happen with 14ga steel but hoped I might squeek by. I think I put some stress in this assembly when welding either the hinges or the handle on. I'm going to try to releive the stress in this assembly this week. if not I may need to try thicker steel.

Weather permitting, going to smoke up a couple o' racks of beef ribs next weekend. Maybe I can find the darn camera in the mean time.