Mild steel or pot metal?

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I picked up a 5/8" turnbuckle at Tractor Supply over the weekend.  It is heavily coated in galvanize......First, will throwing it in a fire pit burn off the galvanize so I can cut/weld on it?Second, I put a magnet on it and it stuck.  However, does this rule out pot metal?  I don't want this this to "explode" on me when I go to weld it.I need to cut it down (it is way too long) and re-weld it.  It will not be used for structural purposes, just decorative.Thanks!
Reply:A)Possibly?B)Pot metal wont explode regardless... But a turnbuckle would be made from steel, probably forged.Have we all gone mad?
Reply:By explode I meant evaporate and splatter everywhere.  I had that happen to me in the past with a latch I thought was mild steel.
Reply:Anything that is magnetic is ferrous.... iron based.  Well... thinking about it you won't run into nickel which also can magnetize but generally ...  Non-ferrous materials like aluminum, zinc, copper, lead, magnesium are non magnetic.  Pot metal is a zinc/aluminum material so you do not have pot metal.    Only non-magnetic you might run into that will confuse is stainless steel.  Stainless alloys are non-magnetic, weakly magnetic usually.
Reply:Why are you welding the turnbuckle? If we knew that we could help ID the correct procedure. No, the fire pit will not remove the zinc, not entirely anyway, and it may damage the turnbuckle.Ian TannerKawasaki KX450 and many other fine tools
Reply:It is going to be heated and darkened to look aged.  In the end, it will simply be a decorative piece in a table.To get the diameter I wanted locally, I had to buy one that would span 9" of travel.  I don't need it that long.  So, I was going to cut it down and re-weld it to a more reasonable length for what I need.See picture attached- Attached Images
Reply:Drop it in acid.  That WILL "burn off" the zinc, and won't create zinc fumes (although it WILL create hydrogen fumes, so do this outside, away from any source of fire).No, a turnbuckle is not pot metal (and pot metal does not attract a magnet).
Reply:I'd second the acid dip. Muriatic acid, I think.or you could buy one without the zinc, check mcmaster and carr they even sell them without the screws here: http://www.mcmaster.com/#turnbuckles/=f8jyouIan TannerKawasaki KX450 and many other fine tools
Reply:Zinc melts at around 800 degrees or some where in that range. It actually combusts at about the same temperature that silver melts if I remember right. I'd have to look that one up but it's beyond camp fire flame temperatures. Then if it's hot dipped there is the gamma layer that is an actual alloy of the zinc and it's host steel. Take a rose bud to it, that'll do it. There'll be some popping and hissing and a lot of white smoke and fluffy white powder. Just don't breath the fumes. Looking at your project there, that will be pretty nice. I'm thinking that if this table is to going to be in a house with kids, they are likely as heck to be putting their feet and the bar and maybe even pushing on it. Might not hurt to attach the rods to those wooden cross members with some equally beefy hardware.  The heavy hardware should blend right in."The things that will destroy America are prosperity at any price, peace at any price, safety first instead of duty first, the love of soft living and the get rich quick theory of life." -Theodore Roosevelt
Reply:Sandy, I have to disagree about the torch. The fumes given off by burning zinc are too dangerous to mess with. Look here: http://www.shopfloortalk.com/forums/...ead.php?t=3315Ian TannerKawasaki KX450 and many other fine tools
Reply:Yeh, I've read that story before. Difficult for anyone to discuss that particular case with out coming across like some hard hearted hard axx so I generally stay away from talking about that one case. For general discussion tho, neither doctors nor OSHA rate zinc oxide as serious as instant death. Every body is different tho and has to make their own decisions. I just got through both welding and torch cutting some double hot dip this afternoon, yesterday and the day before that. I work with the stuff all the time so the thought doesn't bother me any. You have to pick you hazards I guss then go which ever direction from there."The things that will destroy America are prosperity at any price, peace at any price, safety first instead of duty first, the love of soft living and the get rich quick theory of life." -Theodore Roosevelt
Reply:Sandy is right about picking hazards. Can't live without some dangers. I suppose we should qualify our statements a little better. I am 29 years old and in pretty good health, no complaints. I have torched zinc before, I have even TIG welded right through it. It has only affected me enough to notice one time. But, I can't recommend it. Even if you don't get sick, it still sucks, it smells bad, it burns your eyes, and it will ruin your tungsten.If there is any question about compromised health or any kind of lung disorder or anything else, I think the effects will be much worse, and not worth the risk.Ian TannerKawasaki KX450 and many other fine tools
Reply:I use Muriatic acid get it at Ace Hardware, I think it is used in swimming pool upkeep. It will take the stuff right off. But use it out side and in a glass pan or dish. The fumes will mess you up if you breath them.
Reply:Thanks for all of the input.  Looks like muriatic acid it will be.
Reply:"Looking at your project there, that will be pretty nice. I'm thinking that if this table is to going to be in a house with kids, they are likely as heck to be putting their feet and the bar and maybe even pushing on it. Might not hurt to attach the rods to those wooden cross members with some equally beefy hardware. The heavy hardware should blend right in. "Yes, it is part of a new dining room table I am building.  Tried to get a local blacksmith just to make me something along those lines and he wasn't interested.  So, I'm going this route.  The turnbuckle had the screws with eyes on them.  I am going to cut the eyes off and weld 5/8" rod to it.  Then weld some 1/4" plate to the other end of the rod and bolt it all together.
Reply:Are you sure it is galvanized, or is it just cad plated? Muratic (pool acid) acid will do the trick for removing it. Why not just leave it at 9", it would add more visual interest?
Reply:Are you cutting/welding the rod? or the buckle?Gordie -- "I believe you understand what you think I said, but I'm not sure you realize that what you heard is not what I meant."
Reply:Yes, I am cutting the turnbuckle and threaded eye hooks down to make it shorter in length.  I'll be welding solid rod to the end of the threaded portions of the eye hooks once the hook is off.
Reply:Are you sure it is galvanized? - According to the item description in the store, it is galvanized.  It appears to me to have a good, thick coating on it.  It almost appears as if it was dipped.
Reply:With all due respect to everyone posting, we might have some internet overthinking here.I wouldn't dip it in acid or burn the galvanization off.  Just use a wire wheel (or wire brush) to take it off where you're welding.  Or just weld it.  The only danger from galvanized is breathing the fumes, and a quick pair of welds won't be enough to make you sick so long as you're not deliberately putting your nose in the smoke.Last edited by Jack Olsen; 12-06-2011 at 12:37 PM.Jack OlsenMy garage website
Reply:I really need to get the galvanizing off because I intend on heating and treating with wax or oil or something to turn it black and aged looking.  Welding is just the first step in what I am attempting to accomplish.....Here's a picture of the actual turnbuckle-  Ultimately it needs to look similar to the one in the picture I posted earlier. Attached Images
Reply:Originally Posted by wicrulesI really need to get the galvanizing off because I intend on heating and treating with wax or oil or something to turn it black and aged looking.  Welding is just the first step in what I am attempting to accomplish.....Here's a picture of the actual turnbuckle-  Ultimately it needs to look similar to the one in the picture I posted earlier.