strantor Posted February 17, 2009 Share Posted February 17, 2009 I have this huge bolt that fell out of a railroad bridge and today I decided to pound it into a blade. During the first heat, it got this weird yellow pollen looking crust on the outside. I didn't think it was galvanized because it was all rusty and i've never seen anything else used in the rail industry be galvanized. Is that what galvanized looks like when you heat it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
imagedude Posted February 17, 2009 Share Posted February 17, 2009 Sounds very much like zinc, be careful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted February 17, 2009 Share Posted February 17, 2009 Sounds like galvy to me too. Just because it has rust on it doesn't mean it wasn't gavanized, it's just rust resistant, not proof. Frosty Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crazyknives Posted May 20, 2009 Share Posted May 20, 2009 it that bad for you Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob Browne Posted May 20, 2009 Share Posted May 20, 2009 Make sure you don't breath the smoke/fumes. It will make you sick. I would play it safe and leave that piece alone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thomas Dean Posted May 20, 2009 Share Posted May 20, 2009 Yes, that was galvy. and YES it is VERY bad. Gives you Metal Fume Fever, accumalative and each time you get a dose it just adds to it. (in your lungs) Your body cannot get rid of it and YES you can DIE from it! There are ways to cut/weld/forge the stuff but there are much better materials out there that don't have the hazards so why use the galvy??! One way to rid it from the zink is to put it in muratic acid until it quits bubbling, rinse good and then do whatever you want with it. But now you have introduced a new hazard...muratic acid. What are you going to do with the stuff when you are through using it? Like I said...get material with out a galvanized coating, saves time, $$, and YOU! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Sells Posted May 20, 2009 Share Posted May 20, 2009 (edited) it that bad for you Please, please, please go the safety section and read the posted sticky's on this. Edited May 21, 2009 by steve sells Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob JS Posted May 20, 2009 Share Posted May 20, 2009 Is Zinc the only thing that will leave dusty yellow deposits? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlotte Posted May 21, 2009 Share Posted May 21, 2009 Is Zinc the only thing that will leave dusty yellow deposits?No!! Please read steve's safety bulletin!! Think naste posion Heavy Metal Cadnium Yellow , Zinc White if you are into painting. Think cummulative toxicitly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
son_of_bluegrass Posted May 21, 2009 Share Posted May 21, 2009 Were you using coal? Under some conditions I've seen sulfur form similar to what you describe if the coal had a high sulfur content. ron Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Sells Posted May 21, 2009 Share Posted May 21, 2009 sulfur leaving a crust on steel IN the fire ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob JS Posted May 21, 2009 Share Posted May 21, 2009 (edited) What I experienced was a small vent of yellowish smoke, that left a yellow dusty deposit on the steel outside of the fire. First instinct said sulphur. As soon as I saw this I shut off the air and walked away - I have read lots of scary things about metal fume fever. Fortunately my 'forge' is outside. I wonder if it could have been 1 of three things: Contaminated fuel (charcoal) - either a bit of coal sneaked in, or organic material in the charcoal? - It happened when I had put a few lumps of charcoal on that had been sitting at the bottom of the garden pond for a year - long story, but wondered if the algae etc could have a sulphur content? Sulphur content in the steel??? Or a bit of galv jumped in - I now check all the wood I use to start a fire for wire staples.Check Wood For Galv Staples, Pins or Nails! - (for those just brousing ) I just bagged the whole contents of the forge, and disposed of it. I have since built a new forge and switched to coke with no problems. Edited May 21, 2009 by Bob JS spelling Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
panzertank27 Posted May 21, 2009 Share Posted May 21, 2009 hey strantor, just so you know. it was your video on you tube bowie and kukri that finally pushed me to start bladesmithing, was thinking about it for a while, always loved knives but needed a kick. thanks eternally greatful...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Leppo Posted May 21, 2009 Share Posted May 21, 2009 (edited) I've burnt PAINTof a piece, leaving a yellow powdery residue. (EDIT: sorry, there were about five posts jumped in before mine. Yellow residu on the work could be from paint; yellow smoke is from zinc. Edited May 21, 2009 by GOATMAN Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
son_of_bluegrass Posted May 22, 2009 Share Posted May 22, 2009 sulfur leaving a crust on steel IN the fire ? Not so much in the fire as at the edge. From what I understand, if the fire is reducing so there is no oxygen to combined with the sulfur, it is gaseous in the middle of the fire due to the heat and as it leaves the fire it condenses on whatever is cool enough. ron Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Sells Posted May 22, 2009 Share Posted May 22, 2009 I didn't know that, cool, and thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JTHutsonBaby Posted July 29, 2020 Share Posted July 29, 2020 On 5/20/2009 at 7:11 PM, Thomas Dean said: Yes, that was galvy. and YES it is VERY bad. Gives you Metal Fume Fever, accumalative and each time you get a dose it just adds to it. (in your lungs) Your body cannot get rid of it and YES you can DIE from it! Thanks for the advice, I was about to start forging a piece of leaf spring and I saw that yellow oxide layer and knew I should stop immediately. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.