Frequently Asked

The primary reason for vent holes is to allow otherwise trapped air and gases to escape; the primary reason for drain holes is to allow cleaning solutions and molten zinc metal to flow entirely into, over, and throughout the part, and then back into the tank or kettle.

As an average, the weight of the article will increase by about 3.5% due to zinc picked up in the galvanizing process. However, that figure can vary greatly based on numerous factors. The fabrications shape, size, and steel chemistry all play a major role, and other factors like the black weight, the different types of steel that get welded together, and the galvanizing bath chemistry can also have an effect.

Minimizing potential warpage and distortion is easily done in the projects design stages by selecting steel of equal thicknesses for use in every separate subassembly that is to be hot-dip galvanized, using symmetrical designs whenever possible, and by avoiding the use of light-gauge steel (<1/16 / 1.6 mm). Some structures may benefit from the use of temporary bracing to help maintain their shape and/or alignment.

The galvanized coating appearance may either be bright and shiny resulting from the presence of an outer layer of pure zinc, or duller, matte gray as the result of the coatings intermetallic layers being exposed. Performance is not affected. Coating appearance depends on the amount of zinc in the coating.

Numerous different fabrications for a variety of applications are galvanized each year. Contact us about the different types of products that have been hot-dip galvanized.

Yes. Specifically, fabricated steel must allow for easy flow of the cleaning chemicals and molten zinc metal over and through it. This means that gussets must be cropped, holes put in the proper location for draining and venting of zinc from tubular configurations, weld flux removed, overlapping surfaces must be seal- welded, and light gauge material temporarily braced. Please contact us for design and fabrication details.

Galvanizers can progressively dip such a fabrication or article of steel. They dip one half in the molten zinc bath, remove it, turn it around or over and immerse the other half in the zinc. This method is often erroneously referred to as double dipping.

The steel chemistry is the primary determinant of galvanized coating thickness and appearance. Continuously cast steel produced by the steel companies has a wide variety of chemistries, thus the different coating appearances. There are several different additives galvanizers may put in their zinc kettle to enhance the coating appearance by making it shiny, spangled or matte gray. The appearance of the coating (matte gray, shiny, spangled) does nothing to change the corrosion protection of the zinc coating.

Zinc on newly galvanized steel is very reactive and wants to form zinc oxide and zinc hydroxide corrosion products that eventually become the stable zinc carbonate. When galvanized steel is tightly stacked or stored in wet boxes that don’t allow for free flowing air, the zinc forms excessive layers of zinc hydroxide, otherwise known as wet storage stain. Most wet storage stain can be easily removed with a cleaner or nylon brush. To prevent wet storage stain, store galvanized steel indoors or block it so that there is ample free-flowing air between each galvanized article.