Is it safe to drill galvanized steel?

Question

i was drilling holes in a galvanized pipe and i rememberewd it wasnt safe to weld so im wondering if the friction could cause it to make poisonious gas?

Answer 1

As long as your not directly inhaling the dust and particles you are O.K. Now if your doing this for eight hours I would want to wear some kind of protection.

Answer 2

Just wet it with cutting oil, it's the fumes from the vaporized zinc that's poisonous.

Answer 3

Drill it, just don't l**k it.

Answer 4

What material is the drill bit made of?

Answer 5

Welding and drilling are two completely different things. You're not going to generate nearly the amount of heat drilling. Don't sweat it.

Answer 6

generally used galvanized materials have about 60 - 300 microns thickness of galvanize.When you are drilling it you drill it with a dropping special oil, and when you are welding it al gasses in galvanized materials comes to the face and you breathe it.There are some special welding and drilling masks like you are wearing when you are riding motorcycle,it is all closed.Than you are safe.In both case use one of those masks.