Need to torch something that's galvanized

[jeffm]

Years ago a roomate put eye-bolts in the garage floor as a theft deterrant (we chained atv's to them). They're now unused, I just trip over the freakin things and run them over with motorcycles.

I want to just torch them off the floor but I'm sure they're galvanized or something, which puts off nasty fumes. Is there any way around this?
Is the galvanize or zinc like a coating that I can grind off?
And this might sound dumb, but it'll only take 10-30 seconds to chop one loop off. What if I just hold my breath, leave when done, then vent the garage?

Thanks!

[wlbrown]

cutting off bolts

SIR,
if you have a diegrinder, use a cutoff
wheel. these work fine for this kind of
job. just make sure you use eye protection,
and a mask.
wlbrown

[Arbo]

Go ahead and cut them with the torch. Grinding them does pretty much the same thing...making the zinc airborne. For this small of an amount it won't hurt. If you wear a dust mask of some type, this will help also.

[Hobart Expert Rock]

JEFFM.............OPEN THE GARAGE DOOR, TURN ON THE BIG FAN , AND CUT THOSE BABY'S OFF WITH A TORCH........... OH YEA WEAR A GOOD MASK AND GOGGLES...........................BE SAFE..........ROCK
[email protected]

BY THE WAY AFTER THOUGHT, GET THOSE GAS CANS OUT OF THE GARAGE AND WATCH THE SPARKS..................EXPLOSIONS ARE HARMFUL TO THE PEOPLE AND THE BUILDINGS.........

[John Cobb]

If you have an angle grinder or can borrow one, I think that you would be much happier w the overall results. Concrete tends to blow & pop all over the place when too much heat from the torch is used. Not to mention a chunk of the concrete will be missing also.
Just for thought.

[Arc Burn]

Don't think twice about it and just torch them,your concerns are correct though,the fumes given off by the zinc are awfull if taken in heavy doses,i have had to stop welding in the past for a few months due to blood tests showing dangerous levels of zinc in my body,I have also had zinc poisoning(you would swear your gonna die)stomach aches,you sweat like crazy but your freezing cold and all you can do is ride it out!Not trying to scare you,those were excessive amounts were i SHOULD have been more carefull,entirely my fault,you will not have any problems doing what you need.Good luck(not that you'll need it or anything!)

[Guest]

Jeffm, your biggest concern, as John Cobb said, is the popping of the concrete...as it pops it will not only pop up concrete everywhere, but molten steel as well! You can take care of the fumes by a small fan.

[jeffm]

haha, thanks all. This should be fun.
Rocky, I think I overlooked the concrete, it is probably 50+ years old and not the best pour I've seen. not sure what it will do, but we'll grind one and burn one and see what happens.

[jpier]

Just a thought. Have you tried putting a bar through an eye-bolt and screwing it out of the concrete? If your friend drilled holes and used expansion anchors, they should turn right out.

[jeffm]

he drilled a hole in the floor and filled it with some kind of hydraulic cement (drylock?) then dipped the bolt in. So as with a pregnant woman, it can't be unscrewed (oh dear I hope I'm not in trouble for that one)

Thanks for all the help, I gotta get my bikes and other junk out of there first before I can do anything, but now I have a plan!

[Big Nate]

Originally posted by jeffm
So as with a pregnant woman, it can't be unscrewed (oh dear I hope I'm not in trouble for that one)

LOL have to remember that one

~Nate~