Morris Minor Owners Club

Is weld-through zinc primer safe to use without special breathing apparatus? I recently bought some cans of the stuff but chickened out of using it on metal that I was going to weld after I read about welders dying from zinc poisoning. I have a paint-spraying mask but it doesn't fit underneath my welding mask and I'm not sure how effective it would be anyway. The writing on the cans doesn't say anything about what precautions to take when using it.

A good quality 3M welding mask is fine. They are about £5 each.

The 3M 9928 masks only seem to come in boxes of ten, but the Moldex 2405 is available singly and they are quite cheap too. Any thoughts on suitability?

alex_holden wrote:Is weld-through zinc primer safe to use without special breathing apparatus? I recently bought some cans of the stuff but chickened out of using it on metal that I was going to weld after I read about welders dying from zinc poisoning. I have a paint-spraying mask but it doesn't fit underneath my welding mask and I'm not sure how effective it would be anyway. The writing on the cans doesn't say anything about what precautions to take when using it.

Now he tells me

I always use it but have never bothered with a mask - I must read the tin and see if it mentions this.

I should be dead in that case! Ive been using the stuff on everything on the mog, and welded through it plenty of times.
Zinc poisoning results from a high concentration of it in the blood, so you would have to go some to get it!

Contact your supplier and ask for the safety data sheets. You can then carry out a risk assessment.

I would assume the risk is low other wise the safety precautions would be on the can

I use zinc rich primer weld thru spray, but I make sure both garage doors are open when i weld and there is a breeze- well ventilated workshop etc. Good idea though, if you are worried wear a mask, although you do have to absorb a lot of ZINC for it to be toxic.

BTW, Zinc is a necessary trace metal for health and a deficiency can cause problems!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zinc#Zinc_toxicity

I will look up Zinc hazards tomorrow at work. (I work as a research chemist).

chickenjohn wrote: BTW, Zinc is a necessary trace metal for health and a deficiency can cause problems!
I will look up Zinc hazards tomorrow at work. (I work as a research chemist).

I had to take supplements reguarly when i was younger, just one of those things. It makes your finger nails go white if you have a sever deficiency, not so common these days!

So, you use Zinc weld thru primer for your health? ;-)

You should really be wearing a weld mask anyway when welding,let alone for the possible zinc problem. Welding fumes can be very nasty.

Make up a wide end for your hoover, seriously though i have just been given a h&s memo at work where two guys suffered from what they call galv flu, after welding inside a small container (galvanised steel) and they recomend using extraction.
If the fumes are going up your vacuum cleaner then they should'nt be going in your lungs. take care.

chickenjohn wrote:So, you use Zinc weld thru primer for your health? ;-)

Reguarly

Yes - zinc is supposedly good for reducing length of 'cold' symptoms - but excess does lead to Zinc Fever. Quite nasty - but not long lasting. I think good ventilation will be sufficient - unless you are working all day and every day with the stuff!