How to make a trailer

[sbeausol]

I have access to the materials and a welder but I have been told that welding galvenized steel is dangerous. Is that true? If so how does one make a galvanized trailer?

 

[NathanY]

Re: How to make a trailer

If you weld galv steel with out proper ventilation it will make you very very sick. Not a good idea unless you know what you are doing.

 

[sbeausol]

Re: How to make a trailer

can you weld it if you are setup for it? Or is it typically welded then galvanized?

 

[DJ]

Re: How to make a trailer

Welded then dipped.<br /><br />As said before, it's OK to weld galv., just be prepared with proper ventilation.

 

[Dunaruna]

Re: How to make a trailer

In the area where you are welding grind the gal off, you don't need to grind much, just the surface. You can also spray the weld area with a zinc spray that penetrates the weld and affords rust protection. This works especially good with migs.<br /><br />Aldo

 

[kence]

Re: How to make a trailer

ventilate-ventilate-ventilate even when you are grinding make sure you ventilate and wear at least a dust respirator. The fumes from welding galvanized will make you very sick and you may have some problems breathing if inhaled.

 

[Bondo]

Re: How to make a trailer

Ayuh,........<br /><br />Everything said Above...... Grind,+ Ventilate......Use a Fan....Avoid breathing Any of the Little White Feathers that'll be Floating around the work area........<br /><br />I've been converting a boat trailer to be my Canoe trailer.... This is how far I got today......<br />

<br /><br />That's Gal. Framing material I'm using.....Can't Grind it,.. It's Too thin Already....Outdoors, with a Breeze was nice.....<br />Aldo,.. Mig don't work so well with the fan blowing the shielding gas away,... I'm using Flux-cored wire.... Lot's of Splatter, But,.. Oh well....<br /> <br /><br />The Old Town Canoe Co. is having their Scratch,+ Dent Sale on April 15th...........<br />I think i'm going up,+ Grab 20 or 30 Canoes,+ Toss them on the front lawn,+ See What Happens...........

 

[Dunaruna]

Re: How to make a trailer

Yep, lots of splatter, you can play around with different shielding but when it's all said and done..........<br /><br />I got a cheap little stick welder that leaves my mig for dead when it comes to gal welding.<br /><br />Aldo

 

[Winger Ed.]

Re: How to make a trailer

Originally posted by sbeausol:<br /> welding galvenized steel is dangerous.

Very.<br />As said, have good ventilation, grind the galvanize off near where the welds will be, keep your head out of the big smoke cloud up coming off the welding process, get a good respirator--- the kind with filter cartridges, and drink lots of milk. The vitamin D or calacium-- I forget which-- helps push the toxins out of your system, some of which can be absorbed through the skin, and goes a long way to prevent galvanic poisoning.<br /><br />If you get a metalic taste in your mouth,,, stop for the day & shower, you're getting a large accumulation the toxic stuff in ya at that point. Stop and give it a chance to flush out.

 

[Rudderman]

Re: How to make a trailer

If you're planning to make a steel frame and get it dipped afterwards, use a mig welder, not a normal arc (stick) welder. The flux that is used with a stick welder is VERY difficult to remove completely from the weld and if you even have a tiny speck of flux there, the galvanise will not stick at that spot.

 

[Nos4r2]

Re: How to make a trailer

I'm not sure how it goes over in the US but here in the UK I'd recommend getting a professional certified welder to do the job for you-or build a "bolt together" trailer.<br /><br /> No insult intended or implied here at all, but reading between the lines if you didn't know about the processes involved in welding galvanised steel then I'm guessing you aren't certified or experienced enough to do the job-and if your trailer breaks and causes an accident you could be liable for an awful lot of damages.<br />You may find problems in getting the insurance to pay out too.<br /><br />I'm British Standard Institute certified and that's the only reason I could get insurance on my bike after I chopped the frame. Too many people think they can weld. It's not as easy as it looks, and your life or the lives of others may be dependant on that little slag inclusion that may or may not decide to turn into a crack and break the whole weld apart at the wrong time.