Hot-dip galvanized steel pipes for railing?

[mexitegel]

I'm planning to build some railings this spring similar to what "grossa" on the forum has built:


but I want hot-dip galvanized rods instead of stainless steel ones, as the other details of the house will be in silver/aluzinc going forward. Additionally, hot-dip galvanizing is completely maintenance-free

The cheapest and easiest way is to buy hot-dip galvanized pipes and cut them myself; these will not be galvanized at the cut ends, so I'll just rust-proof those areas with paint or spray galvanizing.

In that case, I'm aiming for a hot-dip galvanized welded steel pipe, like http://www.begroup.com/sv/BE-Group-sverige/Produkter/Stal_ror/Sortiment/Ror/SvetsTub1/

But is this a bad idea in any way?

 

[Thomas_Blekinge]

What will you attach the pipes to?
Spraygalv is not as good as varmgalv, so it will become a bit brown there over time.

 

[mexitegel]

As in the picture, i.e., holes in the posts.

It is precisely the rust protection on the cut ends that worries me. Since the ends will be hidden anyway, maybe it's better to paint with rust protection paint than spray galvanizing?

 

[smurfen72]

If you drill them in a good bit, the end won't be visible and you can paint a lot, and there is galv paint in a can that gives a thicker coat. Cut the pipes cold so they don't get burned at the end, but I would prefer stainless steel although it's probably expensive.

 

[mexitegel]

As mentioned, in this case I prefer a hot-dip galvanized appearance over stainless steel for aesthetic reasons; moreover, stainless steel rusts here on the west coast unless you go for the highest grades. But that is not economically justifiable

I hadn't thought about cold cutting, thanks for that

 

[Thomas_Blekinge]

I have built a deck railing in hot-dip galvanized (also thought stainless steel is too expensive, and often you only get A2 quality). I don't see your pictures but I had the posts and pipes welded together before galvanizing. I will send pictures tonight.

 

[smurfen72]

As mentioned, in this case I prefer the hot-dip galvanized look over stainless steel for aesthetic reasons; besides, stainless steel rusts here on the west coast unless you go for the highest quality. But it's not economically justifiable

I hadn't thought of cold cutting, thanks for that

If you buy, for example, acid-resistant pipes of regular industrial quality, they are matte and look quite galvanized but probably cost a lot, yet they hold up as well as galvanized if the environment is so bad that stainless steel rusts.

 

[blackadder]

Have made some balcony railings in electropolished acid-resistant and after a few years in salt spray, it looks like crap. Galvanized, on the other hand, remains the same year after year.

 

[smurfen72]

Have stainless rails on the boat and they are from '97 and still fresh, they wouldn't have stayed that way if they were galvanized. If you choose the right alloy for stainless, they'll last indefinitely, but they become expensive and now if you don't like the look of those, then galvanized is the way to go.

 

[mexitegel]

Smurfen, where can you find cold galvanizing in a can? I've only found regular spray paint and that is, in my opinion, unusable...

 

[smurfen72]

We used to buy at the hardware store, it was a year ago I bought by the can. If you buy spray, buy regular silver spray and spray over the cold galvanization with it to make it look nicer and it should last longer against rust. I usually do this when I've welded on galvanized metal; you spray a bit spottily with silver spray so it's not noticeable.

 

[mexitegel]

Might as well heat up a tub of zinc and put the end in otherwise

 

[smurfen72]

There were/are sticks to rub on hot steel, like when cutting galvanized steel, but it's probably 15 years since I last saw it.

 

[mexitegel]

You mean it was better before?

 

[Thomas_Blekinge]

My railing looks like this (hot-dip galvanized):