difference between galvanize and zinc plating???

what's the difference between galv and zinc plate?? the rangie is in a big pile of bits ready to start tacking the new inner wings/footwells/boot floor and cills! i was gonna just wack it all on and slap loadsa layers of paint and rustproof crap all over it but then i got to wonderin if it would be worth gettin all the bits galvanised first, after all the work to get this lot finished i don't ever wanna do it again so wondered if getting it all treated is the answer? i can't find anywhere local that does galv but my sisters mate owns a plating company in salisbury and said he could do it for me, he reckons zinc plate is as good as galv what do you lot reckon?

i thought galvanising was done using zinc ?

Galvanizing is the process. Zinc is the metal coating. But to all intents and purposes, it is the same thing.

Agree with that but I reckon they usually call it galvanised if it's a rough and ready item like a chassis or a farm gate, and zinc plated if it's a shiny polished finish.

I fort galvanising was a hot dip process, whereas zinc plating is done by electrolosis?

galv is dipped in molten zinc if ya have a chassis or somat similar done in galv. all threaded holes need recutting and if ya chip it u can paint over damaged area with brush on zinc

True, Trewy, but you can cold galvanize too.

woz told by a metal worker that zinc did not rust once done,
somebody out there will know, may the force be with you.

Wilbert said:

woz told by a metal worker that zinc did not rust once done,
somebody out there will know, may the force be with you.

Click to expand...

Zinc dont rust but where lots of peeps **** up they clean out the bolt holes and bush holes this chips the edge (dont forget its galved inside too) rust gets or should i say damp gets in rust starts then it peels back the galvor zinc and bang its rustin
also you get an old chassis and clean it properly i.e dip it in acid after shot blasting and the thickness would scare its like paper

hughesy said:

Agree with that but I reckon they usually call it galvanised if it's a rough and ready item like a chassis or a farm gate, and zinc plated if it's a shiny polished finish.

Click to expand...

aint the shiney polished one called anodizing ?

think ya can polish both but zinc takes a lot more

vivnap said:

aint the shiney polished one called anodizing ?

Click to expand...

nah - thas wot they do ter allyminiumm

Wot he sed^^^^^^^

either way, be careful of the fumes when welding as it gives off toxic gasses welding Galv /zinc or whatever you wanna call it!

no it doesn't. galv/zinc does NOT give off toxic fumes. Check the safety documents.

Certainly doesn't weld well, i was always told the fumes were nasty too...

usually grind clean then galvofroid the finished join

Galvanising uses Zinc, the difference in the looks is the temps, you can get heavy duty plating like farm gates which will just NEVER rust, its so thick it crystalises, then you get the more delicate process which leaves the sort of big blotchy smooth bits.

All galv will look shiney until it oxidizes - best if you want to paint it, or you need an etch.

HOWEVER - there is electroplating which bonds zinc to the metal like the experiment you do in school with the penny not as good you can tell it apart from hot dip as its usually quite thin.

Anodizing is simply oxiding build up to create a thick build up to protect the metal usually aluminium.

The Mad Hat Man said:

no it doesn't. galv/zinc does NOT give off toxic fumes. Check the safety documents.

Click to expand...

Welding of galv will give off zinc, which you will inhale and get "metal fume fever" or "heavy metal poisioning".

The inhalation of excessive zinc fumes can place you or the operator over the PEL (permissible exposure limit) and cause metal fume fever. Ozone can also be emitted and prolonged exposure to ozone can cause lung damage.

Zinc in powder form is listed in the UN dangerous materials paper: UN1436

I know a theatre set builder who also builds some sculptures and once welded a lot of galv scaffolding, he got a heavy metal fever which lasted for some time and there is not much you can do about it. You should however take some MOM milk of magnesia after being exposed - this is not a cure just a recommendation if you have been exposed to some.

I think this is probly mentioned in the lazydog article but to all intents and purposes coating steel in zinc provides a sacrificial anode - ie the zinc corrodes instead of the steel, and as the level of corrosion is far less, and makes the steel anaerobic, it isn't as devastating as "rust" (the oxydisitation of iron). If the zinc is broken or chipped, a tiny bit of corrosion may take place but only in the immediate area of the chip, and the reaction will then take place to seal and sacrificially protect the rest.