Another Galvanized Question

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I bought a piece of street/catwalk grate yesterday to go in the firebox of my BBQ smoker.  It looks like a series of 1" x 1/8" flat stock turned on edge with approx a 1" gap between pieces.  Only problem is, it is galvanized.  I know that to remove the galvanizing, I can apply Muriatic Acid.How would you apply the acid, and what strength?
Reply:I'd submerge it myself.  A good sized sheet of heavy plastic in a cardboard box will work if you are careful not to tear the plastic. Anything that will support the plastic will work, hole in the dirt, cinder blocks etc. Be sure and put in some supports so the acid can get to almost every part of the grate. I would use the small wire chairs they use to support concrete rebar myself, or small chunks of brick.As far as the strength, I don't know. I'd probably do it full strength myself if I could, as the galv on most of those I have seen has been pretty thick. The big thing would be how much liquid you will need to submerge the whole grate. I'd set the plastic up to fit the grate, then fill it with clean water first so I could get an idea how much liquid I'd need. You don't have to install the grate when you do this, just know how deep it needs to be when the grate is in, this will help you drain the "tank" and not worry about tearing the plastic. Then you can decide if you want to do 50/50, full strength or what and have an idea how much you would need..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:There was a long detailed discussion about this recently here, using acid to remove mill scale.  Should be able to find it by looking back through the last few pages of posts, or searching the forum.MM350P/Python/Q300MM175/Q300DialarcHFHTP MIG200PowCon300SMHypertherm380ThermalArc185Purox oaF350CrewCab4x4LoadNGo utilitybedBobcat250XMT304/Optima/SpoolmaticSuitcase12RC/Q300Suitcase8RC/Q400Passport/Q300Smith op
Reply:Sand blasting.   Chemical stripping of galvanizing involves some chemicals your not going to want anywhere near the surface your going to ultimately prepare your food on.personally i would keep looking for a better alternative than trying to use that galvenized grating.Vantage 500's LN-25's, VI-400's, cobramatics, Miller migs, synch 350 LX, Powcon inverters, XMT's, 250 Ton Acurrpress 12' brake, 1/4" 10' Atlantic shear,Koikie plasma table W/ esab plasmas. marvel & hyd-mech saws, pirrana & metal muncher punches.
Reply:Originally Posted by DualieSand blasting.   Chemical stripping of galvanizing involves some chemicals your not going to want anywhere near the surface your going to ultimately prepare your food on.personally i would keep looking for a better alternative than trying to use that galvenized grating.
Reply:Catwalk just might be hot dip galvy. With a good class of hot dipped it's really tough to tell when you 'got it all'. That last layer is sort of part of the base metal. To grind down close and weld is one thing, but to be able to chemically remove it all might be something else.  Everybody has their own opinion of how health damaging it can be tho.
Reply:thats one thing ive never understood. why everybody wants to use steel for these grills? i have built them for people before, i always use stainless bar like 1/4" diameter. if i was at a grill out and saw somebody cooking on an ole rusty steel grill, i think id go hit kfc......
Reply:Originally Posted by El_Lloydeono kidding! i would get something else. thats nasty! zinc plated chicken coming right up!!!
Reply:they make stainless screen for seives in rock crushers..i got a chunk with 1" holes  out of 3/16 wire..been cookin on it for 25 years.. recommend you get a piece of that... you'll never get all the galv off good enough to eat off it...
Reply:I used to make biodiesel, and it's a no no to use galvanized pipe.  Only problem is that it's hard to find black pipe here in Nova Scotia, so galvanized it was.   It's common to remove the galvanization with muriatic acid in the biodiesel community.   Cut it with 50-50 and let it sit overnite, that should remove it.
Reply:"This won't come anywhere near the food. It will be used as a grate in the firebox of an offset smoker. It's only function is to hold burning coals. "Anything upwind of the food affects the food. Wood chips don't come in contact with the food but they DO affect it. SCRAP the galv. idea. Use it for a place to stand or something else. With less work than it will take to COMPLETELY remove all the galv., you could have a proper piece, and NO worry, or contamination/poison.If you have never been affected by "metal fume fever", this might seem a bit much. I only needed to be affected by it once (Ithought I was taking enough precautions), to be very anal about any heating, grinding, welding, cutting on galv.Last edited by tessdad; 10-04-2009 at 10:17 AM.Just my  opinion, not from a book, just from the road.Howes Welding Inc.www.howesweldinginc.com
Reply:Originally Posted by dellwasI used to make biodiesel, and it's a no no to use galvanized pipe.  Only problem is that it's hard to find black pipe here in Nova Scotia, so galvanized it was.   It's common to remove the galvanization with muriatic acid in the biodiesel community.   Cut it with 50-50 and let it sit overnite, that should remove it.
Reply:You are most welcome... Originally Posted by PookieThank you.  I knew it was common to remove galvanization with muriatic acid, but the strength, application, and length of application was what I was unclear on.