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"Zinc Weld"? welding on hot dip galvanized railings

A contractor has installed hand rails for us that do not comply with ADA. The rails were hot dip galvanized after fabrication. They are now proposing to "zinc weld" new pieces in the field to correct the deficiencies. Does "zinc welding" work on carbon steel? Won't the hot dip galvanized material need to be repaired after welding?

Charlie Daniels
landscape Architect - San Diego, California, USA
February 9, 2011

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Hi, Charlie.

Let's see what others say, but I'd be leery. People selling things tend to cast them in the best light, sometimes inventing phrases to portray the idea in optimistic terms. My guess is that they will grind back some of the zinc, do conventional electric arc steel welding, and then paint the weld area with zinc-rich "cold galvanizing" paint.

Regards,

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
February 9, 2011

They may be referring to using zinc for a weld rod (nowhere near the strength of a normal weld). They may be talking about zincing the part like they did in the old days with lead (before Bondo ⇦this on eBay or Amazon [affil links] ) If they can do that, they are really talented and will probably run into grief from OSHA unless the person doing it is wearing a forced air breathing system.

James Watts
- Navarre, Florida
February 10, 2011