Welding plated stock

[Gaslight]

I am building a mobile base for one of my heavy machines. I bought some casters, and their frames are plated with silver stuff. I was hoping to just weld them on for convenience, but I am worried about burning off zinc, if it is present. I could weld them up outside with my stick welder, and keep my back to the wind.

I'm OK at TIG and stick, but I am no genius. So I may not be able to do fancy stuff relative to controling HAZ, that some master might be able to do. Any advice has to be pretty simple.

What is the best approach.

[cnslmva]

Gaslight,
How about grinding the coating off around the edges? About a 1/2" should do it. :)

[Gaslight]

I thought of that, but I don't know whether that would be enough, or not. And whether the grinding is unsafe also, though probably not nearly as bad.

Any ideas? This kind of thing must come up all the time.

[aametalmaster]

I used to weld shiny plated casters all the time. I just used the mig and welded them as is. Powder coated parts are worse to weld...Bob

[HAWK]

I have hot tacked many shiny casters bodies with a hot MIG. It is not a problem. Galvanized is a different story, but nice shiny zinc plated casters weld well. :cool:

[TheRealSpinner]

The wheels are probably galvanized with a zinc coating to prevent rusting. I have welded through this coating with my mig welder with no problem. I wouldn't trust my life with it, but it holds in to my welding cart just fine. I just pretend that I am not killing myself by breathing the fumes. The grinding dust probably does the same damage as the fumes. Be Safe.

[TOMWELDS]

I use a large fan for the fumes. 6011 or 6010 is good on galv.

[Tailshaft56]

I just welded four small coated castors on the new stand for my bandsaw. This was done in an enclosed garage. I did notice an odor from the welds. I haven't noticed any ill effects so I guess there is nothing wrong with me wrong with me wrong with me. LOL

Dennis

[Gaslight]

I guess I will give it a try, outdoors, and just try not to breath.

I was going to just bolt them on, but all the hardware cost about 8 bucks, and that doesn't count the hassle of drilling 16 holes. I thought this was why I welded, so I could just melt stuff together!

Isn't zinc good for colds?

Thanks for the ideas.

[Mike W]

I usually try to bolt on caster wheels in case you ever need to replace them. However I have welded on a few when I was lazy. :rolleyes:

[wb5jhy]

[QUOTE=Gaslight]I guess I will give it a try, outdoors, and just try not to breath.

I was going to just bolt them on, but all the hardware cost about 8 bucks, and that doesn't count the hassle of drilling 16 holes. I thought this was why I welded, so I could just melt stuff together!

Isn't zinc good for colds?

*********

The shiney coating is usually cadmium plate. There are hot dipped zinc casters but they are a lot more expensive. Cadmium is a heavy metal too so you don't want to snort the fumes either.

Yes, zinc is a vital element for good heath that's true. But in disolved form in trace amounts.

Iron is a vital element too. But not in the form of a switchblade in the belly. :eek: :eek: :D


tjj