Hot dip galvanizing

Is this a good option for frames? I wanted to get my frame blasted and hot dipped, then painted over. Thoughts?

 

Seems to work well for boat trailers that see salt water, I am not sure you can paint it though.

 

it can be painted...or at least we have painted galvanized steel. it takes a little thicker coat.

 

It turns out to be an old welders tale. The fumes won't kill you but can make you sick enough that you think it is.(metal fume fever) The fumes are just zinc oxide. The same stuff that lifeguards put on their noses.

http://www.osha.gov/doc/outreachtraining/htmlfiles/weldhlth.html

Galvanized frames are the way to go in the Land Rover restoration circles.
They usually leave them unpainted. Looks cool that way.

 

If memory serves me, working on a new FPL substation 30 years ago, the painter was wiping down galvanized doors with vinegar before painting.

 

A friend has a sheet metal shop and he said to wipe the galvanized down with diluted muriatic acid, when I painted some in the past

 

Galvanized fumes are not good to breath. Be careful and use good ventilation when welding galvanized.

 

Yes, etch the galvanized with a weak acid solution. Gives a place for the primer to grab on to. I prefer the metal etch from the body shop. Just did some Tuesday night.

 

There are two types of galvanizing, Hot Dip and Electoplate. From my limited experience in the marine industry, Hot Dip leaves a thick dirty finish. When you touch it zinc oxide comes off on to your hands. Electroplate leaves a smooth clean finish, that seems to be more suitable for etching and painting.