Remove Galvanization

Galvanization is the process in which steel or another metal is coated in zinc to stop the base metal from oxidizing. In this instructable I will tell how to remove this coating of zinc. Some people may be wondering why you would want to do this. Well, when galvanized metal is welded it gives off toxic fumes that can be harmful.

(NOTE: I apologize for the poor image quality)

Step 1: Supplies

for this instructable you will need:

vinegar

a wire brush

a small glass bowl

a small flashlight (optional) 

Step 2: Soak It

First, fill your bowl with vinegar, then put in the piece of metal from which you want to remove the zinc. Its that simple. It took about half an hour to remove the zinc from a screw about 4 cm. After a short period of time bubbles should appear on the surface of the vinegar and there should be small semitransparent lumps that come off the piece of metal. I used a glass bowl so I could shine the flashlight through the vinegar  to see the bubbles and the lumps better, but this is optional.

Step 3: Brush It

After the half hour has passed, take out the piece of no-longer-galvanized metal. Once you take it out, rinse it under cool water and scrape it with your wire brush. After you have brushed all over the metal, rinse it off again and its safe to weld it.

NOTE: Because screws have threads I would not recommend using them, they take longer than rods or another shape that doesn't have threads.