Galvanized forge body?

B

Boogaloo

Joined
Jun 20, 2013
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Any issues using galvanized pipe for forge body? I know getting galvanized steel real hot will make for nasty zinc fumes but outer section of a forge should be safe right?

A local steel yard is selling schedule 40 10" pipe for $0.35/lb

Extra corrosion resistance is probably helpful too given my rainy/wet locale.
 
I wouldn't take the chance. If you can't find an alternative, build a big fire outside away from civilization and toss the pipe in to burn off the zinc. There goes your corrosion resistance, but you can just paint it with grill paint, or even better, manifold paint.
 
Yeah like homebru said if you go that route burn that galvanizing off and don't be around it when you do. I am a welder and I wear a respirator if I have to weld galvie metal. Schedule 40 should last you many years with no corrosion protection.
 
You can also take it off with Muriatic acid solution.
No, I won't use anything galvanized around or in my forge. The outside will eventually get hot, for any of a number of unforeseen reasons.'
 
While there should be no real health hazard worry about using galvanized pipe for the shell, it is better to use regular iron pipe.

It is so easy to find round cylindrical objects to make a forge shell out of that I don't see any reason to use galvanized.
Old oxygen tanks, old propane tanks, old water heater tanks, old soda syrup tanks, 5 gallon paint and oil cans, old fire extinguishers, ...and about 1000 other old round and hollow things.
 
If you have a compressed gasses dealer in your area ask them for out of spec cylinders close to the diameter you need (also a source for dry ice). The guys near me just give them to me. They make great quench tubes with the top cut off and would make good forge bodies if you can find one with a large enough diameter.
 
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