Health and Safety question regarding welding and zinc primer

Post by **Dean** » Sat Nov 22, 2008 11:59 am

Hi all,

My next job is to weld up a few small holes at the front of my chassis leg. I was considering getting some Weld-Thru zinc primer from frosts and spray this to my steel before welding to protect the bare steel inside the leg and any overlap.

I was told though that zinc primer during welding gives off a poisonous gas, so was told not to do this. Is this right? If this is the case how do I protect the new steel inside the chassis leg as I can't get to it afterwards?

This is the product by the way, it does suggest spray component prior to welding??
http://www.frost.co.uk/item_Detail.asp? ... ostSubcat=

Post by **jonathon** » Sat Nov 22, 2008 12:06 pm

It is true, so wear a toxic mask. Its also true for all welding, the gasses are toxic.

Post by **Dean** » Sat Nov 22, 2008 12:15 pm

Toxic mask it is then... thanks Jonathon.

Post by **aupickup** » Sat Nov 22, 2008 12:18 pm

you can not be to careful

Post by **rayofleamington** » Sat Nov 22, 2008 1:36 pm

Zinc plated steel is probably worse than the zinc spray - not to mention the nasty fumes that come from other things when you're welding.
So make sure you have some ventilation where you are working and try not to keep your head where the fumes rise - this one I often forget!

Post by **bmcecosse** » Sat Nov 22, 2008 2:34 pm

Yes - you can get 'zinc flu' if you breathe in zinc fumes from any metal working. A simple 'dust' mask won't do it - you need a full mouth/nose fitted mask with a carbon filter element - or better still - air fed mask from an external air supply.

Post by **paulk** » Sat Nov 22, 2008 4:50 pm

Galva Flu is 'orrible. Had it once a few years back, not nice at all.

Post by **youngun** » Thu Nov 27, 2008 10:11 pm

Definately wear a mask, zinc poisoning is awful. treat the fumes like 2k paint fumes!

Post by **rayofleamington** » Thu Nov 27, 2008 10:37 pm

Definately wear a mask, zinc poisoning is awful. treat the fumes like 2k paint fumes!

I'm amazed I've never had it so far - as it never really worried me too much despite knowing it's not good (the yellow dust from welding through zinc makes a good reminder that it might be a bit unsafe). After welding near underseal many times I've had to cough out a lot of soot afterwards....

As for zinc weld-thru primer - I hope it does what it says on the tin as I've sprayed a fair bit onto Minors I've welded over the years!
It certainly can't be as bad as leaving the metal bare on a seam - bare seams can rot through in a handfull of years.

Post by **alainmoran** » Fri Nov 28, 2008 12:05 am

rayofleamington wrote: bare seams can rot through in a handfull of years.

Aye, I keep eyeing up a patch I put on one of my chassis legs a few years back ... at the time I only even intended it as a temporary job, and it was my first piece of welding ... I bet I didnt cut enough of the old stuff out, and its probably a good time to whip it off an do it properly since I have the suspension removed already for painting the entire underside in galvanising paint.