Posted by Chuck Tribolet on January 14, 2002 at 20:32:48:
In Reply to: Re: FABER SCUBAPRO TANK FINISH DEFESCT posted by Max Bottomtime on January 14, 2002 at 19:38:25:
I had some boat trailer parts (some stuff I'd
modified) galvanized a while back. Minimum was
$50, and I think that would cover a couple of
hundred pounds. However it's a hot dip process,
and that will have some heat treat considerations,
so I would not do it to a SCUBA tank.
There's also a cold galvanizing process that's
basically a paint with lots of zinc in it. You
can get it at OSH or any good HW store. I had
some legs made for a table in my dark room (a
kinda damp place) in 1988, and the welder cold
galvanized them, and there's no rust today. But
salt water is tougher than my darkroom.
There's also an electrical galvanizing process
that I know nothing about.
Galvanizing protects against rust electrolytically.
It will still provide a good measure of protection
even if scratched. The problem with steel is that
the brass in the regulator sets up an electrolytic
effect in the WRONG direction.
Chuck