The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The Tool Chest Galvie flu, don't catch it!

I've been welding since I was just a sprout, and I've
made a living at it for many years since, and I've
been aware of the hazards involved with welding,
especially when welding galvanized or plated items.
But.....like most of us, I figure I can get away with
it this time and go ahead and weld coated or plated
parts without wearing a mask. What the heck, I can
hold my breath long enough to run those short beads
then lean out and gulp some fresh air, right? You
would think I would learn cuz this tain't the first
time I've dared to weld it with out a mask and ended
up being sick for a few days.
I've made a bunch of stands, carts and what-not from
some nice 2 x 1.25 rectangular tubing that I
scrounged many years ago. Only problem is it's
plated. So the last two days on and off and between
the chores, I've been cutting, fitting and welding
this cart together for my plasma torch.
http://www.pbase.com/dennygraham/image/156914709
So by yesterday afternoon, I'm starting to feel like
I got the flu or a bad cold coming on. Head and neck
ache, stuffy feeling in the head, a little nauseous
a little shaky, which I never am.
I'm pretty healthy and I'd bet I ain't fighting a cold
in the middle of the summer. Pretty sure it's the
Metal fume fever, Monday morning fever, zinc shakes,
galvie flu, metal dust fever or what ever the
favorite term is for you welders out there, but I
got it for a few days.
I'm posting this only so any of you nebies to welding
can be aware of the hazard. Wear a mask if you grind
it off, wear a mask if you weld it, and save your
self a few days of feelin' crappy.

DG

Yeah I try to avoid it as much as possible. have welded bits and pieces, but no projects..... maybe move outdoors for welding....

I spent most of an 8-hour day cutting and welding on a galvanized water tank that needed fitting to a concrete mixer truck after an air pressure regulator stuck and blew the end out of the original tank on the mixer. I couldn't get out of bed for two days- - - -first I was afraid I'd die, and then I was afraid I wouldn't!
Jerry

Don't know why we do it Jerry, we know better but do it anyway.
Felt real bad most of the day but it seems to be clearing out
tonight, hope I have a better Sunday than I did Saturday.
DG

We've just about been forbidden to weld anything that contains or produces hexavalent chrome while at work.

Denny;

Hope you're feeling better now. You spoke about wearing a mask to avoid breathing the fumes. What kind of filter protects the user from being affected by the galvie fumes?
Thanks

SimS

Probably find them at your local welding supply:

http://solutions.3m.com/wps/portal/.../?N=7576200+3294529207+8690968&rt=r3

DG

Thanks for the link. After cruising that site, I went with the half face mask version for welding.

SimS

I was at a local arts and crafts fair. A woman was offering her welded garden art for sale. Most of it was sculptures made from old scrap metal parts. Gears, tool parts, old pipe etc. She also offered welding classes for artists. I noticed a lot of galvanized and chrome pieces welded together. I asked if she did a lot of grinding of the coatings. She said, "Whatever."