JimsShip Posted June 10, 2012 Share Posted June 10, 2012 Ok, here's a question I think I know the answer to, but I thought i'd toss it our there for the pros anyway. My father in law gave me a post vise that was strapped to a tree for the last 20 years. I finally got it all apart and decided to use one of the metal straps that secured it to the tree to make a new leaf spring for it. While in the fire, the flames became a bright blue, and the red paint (very old and faded) blistered and turned a dusty yellow while it burned off. (I was outdoors and stayed clear of the smoke/fumes until it cleared) I had never had this happen before, and i'm thinking it was probably a lead paint that the strap was coated with. Thoughts? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank Turley Posted June 10, 2012 Share Posted June 10, 2012 Sometimes zinc galvanizing will become bright whitish blue. Not good to breathe. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimsShip Posted June 10, 2012 Author Share Posted June 10, 2012 Yeah I steered clear as soon as I saw it, but didn't think flat straps would be galvanized. Thats the trouble with scrap metals, you really never know what you'll end up with. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VolcanoForge Posted June 10, 2012 Share Posted June 10, 2012 Yeah was probably zinc. It turns to yellow dust when burned. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thomas Dean Posted June 10, 2012 Share Posted June 10, 2012 Galvanized metal come in every shape and size you can think of. Pipe, angle, flat stock, round, square, and on and on. Good that you didn't breath any Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimsShip Posted June 10, 2012 Author Share Posted June 10, 2012 I always though it would be pipe, I never thought it could be a flat strap. Well, at least now I know what it looks like in the fire for next time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thomas Dean Posted June 10, 2012 Share Posted June 10, 2012 We have platforms with 'I'-bean, 'H'-beam, and channel iron that has all been hot dipped galvanized. All the floor grating is galv. also. Never, NEVER burn the stuff in your forge, ain't worth the risk. and there is too much 'free' steel in the right places to take the chance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted June 11, 2012 Share Posted June 11, 2012 Usually you can recognize it before it gets into the forge; but sometimes old stuff can be quite rusty but still have traces of galvanization! And yes high lead paint was commonly used on old ironwork too and should be avoided. And then there are things like cadmium plating that is worse for you than zinc! The basic rule is to NOT forge *any* plated material and thus not have to worry about what it *might* be. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bentiron1946 Posted June 11, 2012 Share Posted June 11, 2012 At the iron pour some of the young bucks think it is great fun to put plated screws in their molds to get a pyrotechnic display when the molten iron hits them but I get as far a way as possible from them. They will put in deck screw, dry wall screws, galvanized screws just to get pretty sparks, it is quite a display but not something one should inhale. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crunch Posted June 13, 2012 Share Posted June 13, 2012 "Red Lead" paint? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EGreen Posted June 15, 2012 Share Posted June 15, 2012 the main source of flat strap galvanized was from telephone poles,the braces that braced the top cross beam.bout 3 ' long1/4 thick 1'1/4 wide 1 bolt hole on each end Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted June 15, 2012 Share Posted June 15, 2012 And they are often medium carbon to boot (or higher) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ten Hammers Posted June 17, 2012 Share Posted June 17, 2012 Windmill parts will be galvanized. All forms of fasteners for power companies as well as strap/angle etc will be plated. There will be people that say they just weld the stuff, no big deal. Not me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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