Galvanized steel water bed

[keverin16]

Hello plasmaspider community.

I am in the process of building a plasma table and i would like to know if there is any problem involved in using galvanized steel for the water bed?
can zinc dissolve in the water and vaporize in the air while cutting or something? It seems nobody is using it.

Thank you very much!

[Larry83301]

If you burn or weld Galvanized make sure you have lots of ventilation and don't breathe any of the smoke, it can kill you!


Larry

[keverin16]

Hey Larry

Yes i know that. I mean if i just make the tub part out of galvanized steel and use normal steel for the slabs. Would this lead to any problems with healt and or galvanic corosion or anything? Thanks!

[acourtjester]

I would paint the insides to stop any Galvanic action, I use a rustoleum paint with a hardener added to give is a little more protection. the formula is posted on YouTube

[TJS]

Do yourself a favor. Have a steel supply place that has a large brake make you a water tray out of stainless, at least 10ga. Have then bend up everting and you just weld the corner seems. I wish I did this when I built mine. I used the picture frame method(steel) and nothing but warpage and issues. I have used por15, rustoleum and even anti fouling marine paint. Nothing "sticks". It all peels up after a few months.
T.J.

[SegoMan DeSigns]

Have a tank to drain the table into and clean out the table on a regular basis, Use a rust inhibitor and you should be good. My 2x2 T M is 7 y/o and I can still get a shine out of the metal.. I use laundry Soda for rust prevention.

[keverin16]

so if i can have the tub out of galvanised steel for like 20 USD more than normal steel it is not worth it? nobody ever did that together with normal steel slabs?

[adbuch]

I used 11 ga. cold rolled steel for my water tray. Welded construction with bottom and 4 sides. I left it bare steel (no paint or other coating) and do add a small amount of water soluble cutting oil (coolant) to the water. It has been in service for about 6 years now with no problems whatsoever. There was a little bowing of the bottom when I welded it, but that does not cause any problems. My water pan is about 4 ft. x 4 ft. x 4 inches deep, with a diamond mesh screen about 1" above the bottom to catch any small parts.

At the time, I had considered stainless steel- but the cost was over $300 for the material and the cost for the 11 ga. steel was around $75 or so - and I was on a budget. It would be easier to have a shop bend on up, but I like to do things myself and only have a 16 ga. brake.



Here is the link to see all the photos of the build and testing.
David

https://photos.app.goo.gl/h8LHufi6frttfGNQA

water tray.jpg

[Joe Jones]

Hello plasmaspider community.

I am in the process of building a plasma table and i would like to know if there is any problem involved in using galvanized steel for the water bed?
can zinc dissolve in the water and vaporize in the air while cutting or something? It seems nobody is using it.

Thank you very much!

Galvanized metal and plasma cutting do not play well together.

Joe

[keverin16]

Hello plasmaspider community.

I am in the process of building a plasma table and i would like to know if there is any problem involved in using galvanized steel for the water bed?
can zinc dissolve in the water and vaporize in the air while cutting or something? It seems nobody is using it.

Thank you very much!

Galvanized metal and plasma cutting do not play well together.

Joe

Yes, but if i only do the tub it would never be in contact with plasma cutting. slabs steel, tub galvanized. my question was if this would cause galcanic corrosion or de zinc dissolves into the water or anything? Best regards

[adbuch]

Hello plasmaspider community.

I am in the process of building a plasma table and i would like to know if there is any problem involved in using galvanized steel for the water bed?
can zinc dissolve in the water and vaporize in the air while cutting or something? It seems nobody is using it.

Thank you very much!

Galvanized metal and plasma cutting do not play well together.

Joe

Yes, but if i only do the tub it would never be in contact with plasma cutting. slabs steel, tub galvanized. my question was if this would cause galcanic corrosion or de zinc dissolves into the water or anything? Best regards

I think this depends on the distance from the your water level to the material you are cutting, and how deep you water tray is. For my setup, the top surface of my water is about 10 or 12 inches below the top of the cutting grates. In my setup the water is there to extinguish the molten spray from the plasma cutter - which probably eliminates about 90% of the smoke and dust. My draft system exhausts the remainder for a smoke free shop.

Some of the guys have very shallow water pans located such that the water level is right up to the bottom surface of the sheet of material being cut. They claim that having the material being basically submersed in water helps to eliminate warping. This may be true, but as Jim Colt will tell you - water splashed up into the consumables can wreak havoc with the cutter.

I personally would not have a problem using galvanized for the water tray, particularly for my application. As long as the water is drained and refreshed periodically, I don't believe that any potential contamination from the zinc would cause any problems.

David

[Joe Jones]

I would make the tub out of stainless steel.

Joe

[Plasma-art]

As someone that likes boats the first thing that comes to mind is electrolysis/galvanic corrosion.
Dissimilar metals and stray currents equals issues when you throw water in the mix.
The zinc might dissolve off of the steel due to it.