Welding galvanized steel conduit
#1
12-21-18, 08:28 AM
Welding galvanized steel conduit
I bought some galvanized steel conduit from Home Depot to build a support frame for a custom cab for my golf cart. It might not make a difference as far as using my Century Mig Welder to tack together some of the joints that they do not make fittings for, but it might. I have no experience welding galvanized so i thought someone could give me a heads up on anything different I might have to do. I am using and argon co2 mix at present, and have .030 regular steel welding wire in the machine.
#2
12-21-18, 09:00 AM
First don't breath the fumes from the galvanize [zink] It will not kill you, but it will make you feel bad. When you start to weld, the heat of the arc will burn off the zink and you will be able to weld the steel. I worked for a sign making Co, and every day they gave us a quart of milk to combat the effects of the zink fumes.
Sid
Sid
#3
12-21-18, 09:36 AM
Group Moderator
It sounds like you're going to use EMT. I use a belt sander and take off the galvanizing back about 1/2-3/4" from the weld area. A grinder is generally too aggressive for the thin wall of EMT but a sander does a good job of just removing the zinc. Then after welding hit the joint area with spray galvanizing or gray primer which matches pretty well with galvanized.
#4
12-21-18, 10:34 AM
Member
they gave us a quart of milk to combat the effects of the zink fumes
Something tells me that this may not be an approved OSHA standard!
#5
12-25-18, 09:59 AM
I found some fittings on the web (Canopies and Tarps.com) that might work without me having to weld them. These 3 way 90 degree fittting legs will be perfect if their inside diameter is .750. they appear to come with bolts threaded into the legs for tightening down to the EMT I have which is .710 OD. That way I can do this with a fifth of vodka instead of milk.....
#6
12-25-18, 11:27 AM
Group Moderator
That way I can do this with a fifth of vodka instead of milk.....
That's what I'm talking about.
