[TheForge] DO NOT BURN OFF ZINC (GALVANIZED) (Was: Drawer Pulls -source question)

[Peter Hirst]

Will this dilute acid work with hot dip galvy?  Or should I reserve this for 
smaller plated peices? One of my main requirements in self-colored hardware 
is chain. Its a small but important component of my kitchen racks and a 
couple other pieces. I can buy a buckets of the stuff and keep it for a 
hundred years, but I usually only need 10 feet at a time and I'd rather pay 
a little more and not tie up the cash and space.  I would love to be able to 
just pick up the local product--almost always hot dip -- and give it a bath, 
but this seems like an awful lot of zinc to have to move.

Keziah
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Bruce Freeman" <freemab222 at gmail.com>
To: "Sponsored by ABANA" <theforge at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Friday, February 22, 2008 9:25 AM
Subject: [TheForge] DO NOT BURN OFF ZINC (GALVANIZED) (Was: Drawer 
Pulls -source question)


> If any of you are STILL tempted to BURN zinc plating off steel, READ
> THIS:  (shouting intentional!)
>
> http://www.anvilfire.com/iForge/tutor/safety3/index.htm
>
> What makes this death so very, very sad is that zinc can be pickled
> off steel quickly, easily and with very little hazard.
>
> Place your clean, zinc-coated object in any dilute acid, such as
> vinegar, sodium bisulfate solution, or dilute sulfuric acid (battery
> acid).  Avoid using dilute hydrochloric acid (muriatic acid).  DO THIS
> OUTDOORS.  Hydrogen bubbles (the greatest real hazard) will indicate
> the zinc is being oxidized and dissolved.  The hydrogen is flammable,
> and explosive, but in the open air the danger is minimal.
>
> However, if you use a volatile acid (vinegar or muriatic) the acid
> will be carried into the air, diminishing the acidity of the
> solulution.  Vinegar will stink, but muriatic is a nasty - it will
> rust your steel and destroy your lungs.  Outside, it's not such a
> hazard, but why take the chance?
>
> The resulting pickle solution will contain zinc and whatever acid
> anion you used.  Zinc is toxic, but not as toxic as lead.  In
> micro-scale, zinc is a necessary nutrient. You can reuse this pickle
> for quite a while, but eventually it will be expended.  I suggest you
> neutralize any remaining acid (carefully) and dispose in accordance
> with local regulations.
>
> Bruce
> NJ
>
> On Thu, Feb 21, 2008 at 8:23 PM, Jerry Frost <akfrosty at mtaonline.net> 
> wrote:
>> I believe you can remove the galvy with a white vinegar
>>  soak.
>>
>>  Frosty
>>  -------------------------------
>>  If it ain't forged
>>  it ain't real.
>>  Wrought iron is.
>>  The FrostWorks
>>
>>  Meadow Lakes, AK.
>>
>>
>>
>>  From: "Mark Novak" <mark at fireworkspdx.com>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> > Y'all recommended I use Coupling Nuts as a shortcut
>>  > for making drawer  pulls, but I can't find a source
>>  > for uncoated coupling nuts. They're  all either zinc
>>  > coated (I don't have a hood rig, etc... for burning
>>  > the coating off safely with acid, etc...) or
>>  > stainless (I don't have  the equipment to weld
>>  > stainless). Any ideas or sources?
>>
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>
>
>
> -- 
> Bruce
> NJ
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