Welding Galv steel poisoning.

[Kev80]

I was a bit crook the other day after welding some galv steel so im assuming it was related. Massive headache & feeling sick.

I know when welding Gal you need to grind it back to avoid this problem as i did but obviously not good enough. Most was straight 50x50 RHS gal but some was the gal dips stuff.

Im sure you guys weld a lot so does anyone know much about this subject ? How toxic is it ?

Cheers.

[chimpboy]

http://www.aws.org/technical/facts/FACT ... 20fumes%22

Note, "there are no known long-term effects"... but since the fumes can also sometimes contain lead I probably wouldn't make a habit of it.

It's funny I was warned about this when I had to weld some galvanised stuff and although I noticed the fumes it didn't have any effect on me at all, dunno why.

[Kev80]

I have gotten away with it in the past too but this time got me.......will be more careful next time.

Will check out that link.

[pongo]

My LATE father had been welding this for years at his workplace, Inside and outside with no added ventilation,etc.

The type of cancer the died of ( small cell ) can also be attibuted to workplace fumes,etc such as welding gal. he was also a heavy smoker so cant say for sure.

ANy way, i am to believe the fumes coming off gal is arsnic. the old age cure is to drink plenty of milk when welding this shiat. Seems to work for me, so when i weld alot i drink milk.

Cheers

[GOT MUD]

i 2nd the drinking milk thing know a few pro welders that swear buy it

[Kev80]

I have heard of this before too but never really believed it, must be something to it.

Still, milk may prevent the illness but your body is still taking in these chemicals.....that can't be good.

[Beastmavster]

http://www.aws.org/technical/facts/FACT ... 20fumes%22

Note, "there are no known long-term effects"... but since the fumes can also sometimes contain lead I probably wouldn't make a habit of it.

It's funny I was warned about this when I had to weld some galvanised stuff and although I noticed the fumes it didn't have any effect on me at all, dunno why.

That'd be your years of living in a toxic place at kedron with the lead based paint flaking off the walls.....

[N*A*M]

i love the high of vapourising galvo

i get heaps of nasal mucous which i assume is bodily defense
does drinking soy milk work? i'm cursed with asian intolerance of lactose

[Eddy]

i love the high of vapourising galvo

i get heaps of nasal mucous which i assume is bodily defense
does drinking soy milk work? i'm cursed with asian intolerance of lactose

I got that too ... not asian but .

Any way ... fresh pineapple is a natural antihystamine and will counter the effects of that deadly lactose shit.

[BundyRumandCoke]

Hey, Dont go knocking Kedron. I lived there for 20 years.

[Vulcanised]

I used to get crook welding gal stuff all the time.... the company refused to supply an extraction system to get rid of the smoke. I used to weld large angle iron and flat bar, had heaps of gal on them. A few more amps and a bit of extra care made the welds acceptable. Also welding with staincraft or stainless steel grade rods is poisonous as well..... something about cadmium poisoning

[bru21]

arc is the worst by far having semi radioactive ingreadients to help the arc jump and maintain. I mig more gal than anything else and it does shit me. I don't drink dairy either. My trick is to use a fan sucking lightly as to no suck the mig gas. I never grind back the welds just anticipate the flare and run with it. it helps to on off on off to as this seems to chase it ahead of the weld pool. the gal (zinc) contains cadmium as an impurity and that is the major problem. its 10x more toxic than lead and acclumilates. zinc is ok in small doses and is needed by the body for defence/repair/bone formation.

if you are really concerned use a p2 disposable face mask they are like 2 bucks eack and have you feeling tops afterwards.

on a different note is anyone scared of grinding dust and plasma fumes, I cut a beer keg in half and nearly dry wretched on the spot.

[Kev80]

if you are really concerned use a p2 disposable face mask they are like 2 bucks eack and have you feeling tops afterwards.

Does this work ?

I only assumed a ventilated mask would work against such fumes, might check it out.

[awill4x4]

What some of the pool fence manufacturers use is a silicon/bronze Mig wire, this will bond to the galvanising without burning it away from the steel parent metal. This give maximum protection in a pretty savage enviroment. It's pretty expensive stuff though.
Regards Andrew.

[J Top]

After a night of miging up some galv I had a long night of stomach cramps and uncontrolled twitching and shakes
J Top

[AdrianGQ]

when grinding the gal off grind untill there are a good amount of sparks coming off the work as the gal dosent produce sparks when grinding so no sparks means your still grinding gal .
a good resporator will will be an awsome investment iv you weld the stuff regurly and you cant beat milk

[Kev80]

After a night of miging up some galv I had a long night of stomach cramps and uncontrolled twitching and shakes
J Top

Yeah i know what you mean, it feels like it effects the nervous system more than anything........not good.

Hey i recon the Myth Busters should do a show on the effects of milk & gal fumes.
The milk thing is hard to believe but everyone swears by it.

[Rambo]

I've been working in a foundry for years and when U poor brass,the zinc fumes rise up through big exhaust fans, so theres s**t loads of it. All the blokes who poor it have allways drank lots of milk, so milk does work on the effects of zinc poisioning.

[PJ.zook]

Theres a guy at work who used to work for BHP special something devision, apparently the fumes they used to breathe there have killed off most of the guys he knew who worked with him and he is up for it in the next 5 years or so, he is a smoker too so that doestn help.
Man if i knew i might be dying, i wouldnt be working thats for sure.

[pongo]

Theres a guy at work who used to work for BHP special something devision, apparently the fumes they used to breathe there have killed off most of the guys he knew who worked with him and he is up for it in the next 5 years or so, he is a smoker too so that doestn help.
Man if i knew i might be dying, i wouldnt be working thats for sure.

big companies stiffing the workers as per usual.

[Kev80]

Just talked to my father who works on a mine site said that the welders there actually refuse to weld gal or if it has to be done there are a lot of safety precautions taken.

The OHS on large job sites prevent these sorts of problems occuring, eventually it will filter down to the smaller companies that don't take it seriously.

Why risk your health to make someone else money.

[ludacris]

Yep I vote Milk and good fans ventilation. Also it seems that the non gas mig wire is the way to go with welding gal.

LudaCris

[The Rocky]

i was always told to drink milk after welding gal

[jcclures]

When I was working in the mining industry, I was told to always drink milk when wilding gal, ventilation underground is never the best.

[Rem 22250]

Was told by some welders to drink milk also as it line's ur throat, doing this has helped me. But I still grind the gal back and plenty of ventilation as well.

[Shorti]

Ok drinking milk is going to line your thoat.... What about the poisonous gases going into your lungs and maybe causing long term damage? You can get welding helmets with ventilation systems on them, they are usually cordless, if that is not on the cards the P2 Filter gets the thumbs up.

[Guy]

http://www.dph.sf.ca.us/cehp/Lead/lead_in_body.htm

Seems to make sense to me ..

[sudso]

I've been welding for 23 years. Just dont (cough cough) breathe any fumes (cough cough) or metal dust.
All those related illnesses and conditions are not a myth (cough cough)

[GLENS]

Ok drinking milk is going to line your thoat.... What about the poisonous gases going into your lungs and maybe causing long term damage? You can get welding helmets with ventilation systems on them, they are usually cordless, if that is not on the cards the P2 Filter gets the thumbs up.

Hi the welding mask you are talking about is a ADFLO MADE BY SPEEDGLASS, As a boilermaker/pressure welder i use one every day they are great,as for drinking milk it is a old wifes tale ask any good safety rep and they will tell you the same thing.

[sudso]

Also a low profile P2 rated mask with the air valve does a pretty good job of filtering out contaminents as long as you dont have a few days growth or a beard.
They have a steel band to mold around your nose and a soft moulding to seal around your gob with adjustable straps to keep it tight.
Not all that comfy but they are the better ones of the disposables. You can use them for quite a few days with constant welding too, just blow them out occaisionally from the inside with air.
3M make a good one of these type.