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Q&As since 1989
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Bird screen using hot dipped or electro-galvanising mesh
October 17, 2011
Hi, I would like to know if electro-galavanised material is more suitable
for bird & animal cage (bird/animal may be poisoned by the lead in HDG?)
If so, what is the commercial max zinc content available for producing electro-galvanised
screens?
BUILDING PRODUCT - SINGAPORE
Hi, William.
This site is visited by many metal finishers but probably by few avian veterinarians, so you may not get the authoritative answer you seek. But my understanding is that bird cages must never be zinc coated or plated as zinc is quite poisonous to birds, and birds chew the screening. Please search the site for "bird zinc" or "parrot zinc" and you will find several good threads on the subject.
Regards,
Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
October 16, 2011
October 18, 2011
I don't know about the toxic effects of zinc on birds, but there's zinc in many types of nuts that birds eat.
It could be a concentration issue though. Too much of anything is usually a problem for most animals.
But the reason I responded is to try to clarify the term "electrogalvanized".
I contend that there's no such thing. Its either galvanized or its electroplated.
Galvanized is an alloying process using molten zinc.
Electroplating is an electrochemical deposition of zinc on another metal from a solution, and driven by and electric current.
Galvanizing typically puts about 5-10 times the thickness of zinc on the substrate. It has a rougher finish, but lasts longer.
Geoff Crowley
Crithwood Ltd.
Westfield, Scotland, UK
Hi, Geoff.
I agree that the term "electrogalvanized" is not needed and the word was probably the creation of a salesperson trying to supply a cheaper finish while riding the coattails of a more expensive finish. But at this point there are hundreds of consumer items labeled "electrogalvanized" and I don't think we will successfully purge it until enough roofs or pressure treated decks fall apart that there is consumer disgust with the term :-)
Regards,
Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
October 24, 2011
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