Welding Zinc Question

[nicksorg]

Good morning.
From what I understand, welding Zinc can be deadly/dangerous. I need to make some shutter hangers. They are essentially a lag bolt with a small section of rod at the end that slides inside the shutter hinge. If I buy zinc coated lag bolt at Lowe's, can I grind the end and safely weld a piece of rod on it?
Thanks
Nick

[ronsii]

Good morning.
From what I understand, welding Zinc can be deadly/dangerous. I need to make some shutter hangers. They are essentially a lag bolt with a small section of rod at the end that slides inside the shutter hinge. If I buy zinc coated lag bolt at Lowe's, can I grind the end and safely weld a piece of rod on it?
Thanks
Nick

Yes, you can grind the zinc off... try not to breathe the fumes while welding as the HAZ will still burn zinc if you don't grind WAY past where the weld will actually be

I weld zinc plated all the time... just make sure you are upwind, outdoors, or have a good respirator on.

[ronsii]

Also when grinding zinc it can get pretty gummy... and will clog up the grinding wheel so there will always be some zinc left in the metal where you will be welding... another option is acid etching the zinc off....

[nicksorg]

Thanks. I'll plan to do the work outside.

[MinnesotaDave]

Good morning.
From what I understand, welding Zinc can be deadly/dangerous. I need to make some shutter hangers. They are essentially a lag bolt with a small section of rod at the end that slides inside the shutter hinge. If I buy zinc coated lag bolt at Lowe's, can I grind the end and safely weld a piece of rod on it?
Thanks
Nick

Yes you can. You won't likely even notice after grinding the zinc off a bolt head - barely smell it.

Welding several beads on zinc coated flat steel is a different animal - it sucks.

[krl]

... another option is acid etching the zinc off....

For small things like bolts, I always use vinegar to remove zinc. 24h in vinear, and there is no more zinc to worrie about.