galvanized pipe job

admin

Hi,  I got an oxy-acetylene torch.   What I am planning on doing is fixing a galvanized pipe.  The pipe has a fair size crack in it and location doesn't allow well the use of cutting the pipe and rethreading.  The pipe is used for irrigation purposes.  What I was planning on doing is using a bronze brazing rod, flux coated to fix this crack.   Sense I have never done a job like this before I was hoping if someone could give me a heads up on it.  Thanks
Reply:if it were me i would try to lightly grind the joint, then just add heat until the brazing rod wets out nice and fills it in. --Gol'
Reply:I work on galvanized irrigation pipe on a weekly basis.  How big is the pipe, and what type of irrigation?  Is it center pivot irrigation?  You could grind the galvanizing off, and braze it.  However it might be better off welded depending on what and where it is used, and not to mention some galvanized irrigation pipe can be rather tough to get the galv. off of.  An aluminum grinding disk will work better for removing the galv. as it will not clog up like a standard disk will.   Give me a little more info and some better advice can be given.I'm a Lover, Fighter, Wild horse Rider, and a pretty good welding man......
Reply:you can also use the torch to heat up the pipe in the area of the crack to melt off the zinc coating. Heat and scrub with wire brush until the coating is clear of the cracked area. When you have clean, steel pipe to work with brazing results will be much better.
Reply:Originally Posted by Hammack_Welding An aluminum grinding disk will work better for removing the galv. as it will not clog up like a standard disk will.
Reply:just a safety notezinc (galvanized pipe) sickness is no fun,  it feels like the flu, but worse.  BE CAREFUL whether grinding or burning it off.  Wear a respirator, and if you do start feeling sick, drink a glass of milk, you will feel just as right as rain in a jiffy.
Reply:Thanks for the replies,    Pipe is 1" galvanized pipe on a hydrant.  It is very similair to this .   It seems like most here are in favor of grinding.  The freezing water has really caused the surface to bulge making it not truely round.  Being not truely round, somewhat warped, I am thinking that it might be hard to hit all the zinc around the area with a grinding disc perhaps burning it off is the most practical thing to do in my situation.  Thanks
Reply:if it were me, i'd grind as much off as i could, then call it good. as long as you are welding in a well-ventilated area (most likely you are since it's on an outside pipe), you shouldn't have too much of a problem. if it makes you feel better, aim a fan at yourself, from behind you, in order to keep the fumes blowing away. no fumes = no galv. sickness. the little bit that IS in there will be burned out due to your torch.Later,Andy
Reply:One thing to consider. Why did the pipe freeze? Those pipes should shut off well below the surface, and drain down after they have been shut off. Did someone leave the faucet on? If so, ok no problem. If the valve at the bottom has a slow leak that lets the pipe fill faster than it can drain, I would fix this first. Sometimes you can take the faucet apart from the top and replace a washer. If you have to dig up the faucet to reach the seals at the bottom, you can most likely just replace the vertical pipe. Most just screw together.Good luck
Reply:HA! I always wondered why I got sick after welding some stuff. Good to know.You don't get the same thing from welding plain, stainless or aluminum do you?
Reply:no, zinc isnt real good for the bodydont get sick, but if you do, do the milk thing
Reply:Originally Posted by UnderwhereYou don't get the same thing from welding plain, stainless or aluminum do you?
Reply:Go to Lincolns website, they have a new publication on the dangers of breathing the fumes from welding. I am pretty sure it is the result of the lawsuit. All of the fumes given off from welding are bad for you. Some materials give off their own fumes that are harmful especially alloys and I seem to remember aluminum as well. I have a strange and very painful (debilitating in fact when it flares) medical condition (no name for it) and the best the docs can tell me is they think it is the result of chemical exposure (at first they thought Gulf War Syndrome except I wasn't there and had it before we went). I had already been breathing welding fumes for 20 years before I went in, but was exposed to a lot of other chemicals too. Nobody knows what brought it about, but I do everything I can to avoid breathing the fumes now.The difference between art and craft is the quality of the workmanship. I am an artist.