Someone Selling Trashcan Smokers - isn't galvanized metal poisonous?

[Pandemonium]

http://www.etsy.com/listing/78973234...#item-reporter
this link is dead now haha

[IrishChef]

Some one once said, "a fool and his money soon part ways."....

[BBQ Engineer]

The guy is an idiot and I doubt he will sell many well I hope not, he doesnt even say what state hes is in the ebay ad? wtf! like Rab said Myrons been selling those for years scumbag!

That Ebay disclaimer that that guy wrote pisses me off almost as much a statement like this...

"I've been doing it like that for years...Hasn't killed me yet".

I'd like to see that research...Get a clue, you jack wagon.

[GOT14U]

First off I would not use a trash can smoker, however I think some facts have been skewed here. You must vaporize zinc to get the fumes everyone is talking about. Zinc vaporizes around 1650 degrees and melts at 900 degrees. So in essence they are probably safe to use. If you do get "metal fume fever" it is not deadly as they understand it yet. It may make you wish you were dead but it is not deadly. They are even using it along with other things to fight forms of cancer and aids...
Here is a article for you guys >> http://www.sperkoengineering.com/htm...Galvanized.pdf

[Pandemonium]

First off I would not use a trash can smoker, however I think some facts have been skewed here. You must vaporize zinc to get the fumes everyone is talking about. Zinc vaporizes around 1650 degrees and melts at 900 degrees. So in essence they are probably safe to use. If you do get "metal fume fever" it is not deadly as they understand it yet. It may make you wish you were dead but it is not deadly. They are even using it along with other things to fight forms of cancer and aids...
Here is a article for you guys >> http://www.sperkoengineering.com/htm...Galvanized.pdf

LOL Who is on that horse? looks like a bear ahhaha

[Richtee]

"Galvanized steel is suitable for high-temperature applications of up to 392°F (200°C)."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hot-dip_galvanizing

To me...I'm not risking flaking/chipping OR outgassing. Apparently it can become mechanically unstable well before it starts to outgas. Which..is BEFORE it vaporizes.

[GOT14U]

it's our best friend.....Ritch I wouldn't risk it either

LOL Who is on that horse? looks like a bear ahhaha

[Richtee]

it's our best friend....

Don't look like Obama. O his Mama. Maybe Dali Lama?

[Hector]

First off I would not use a trash can smoker, however I think some facts have been skewed here. You must vaporize zinc to get the fumes everyone is talking about. Zinc vaporizes around 1650 degrees and melts at 900 degrees. So in essence they are probably safe to use. If you do get "metal fume fever" it is not deadly as they understand it yet. It may make you wish you were dead but it is not deadly. They are even using it along with other things to fight forms of cancer and aids...
Here is a article for you guys >> http://www.sperkoengineering.com/htm...Galvanized.pdf

Thanks for the link. It's great when somebody backs up "everyone knows" with some background info and facts.

What gets me about the info in the link is that it only mentions inhaling the fumes, not ingesting any residue that may be left from the fumes/smoke. I have no idea how much difference it makes.

There are numerous sites on the web about building these garbage can smokers & galvanized bolts frequently get used in our UDSs by new builders without realizing it.

Has anybody come across info concerning somebody getting sick from eating food made in a smoker containing galvanized metal? One would think that if this is a real issue, there would be info floating around about the repercussions of eating food prepared in one of these.

[Richtee]

I'd not fret a bolt or six. But an entire smoker body? Nope... not to mention acids and salts in our mops and rubs... going chemical on the stuff.

[Mark R]

It's pretty interesting what a little acidic solution will do to galvanized. A tomato juice spill after a week will start rusting. Let's see in a smoker, who would use tomato juice, or lemon, or orange...etc?
I work with sulfuric acid and hydrochloric acid every day. You do not even want to be near the fumes if it spills on galvanized.

[eDJ]

Re:

I've seen discussion of this issue myself.

I think the Muratic Acid cleansing and hosing out with fresh water for the interior and inside of the lid could make sense. Then wipe the clean metal
with oil as you would a cast iron implement.

http://www.smokstak.com/forum/showthread.php?t=20143

If you remove the zinc from the interior the outside would just better protect it from the elements.

If the fire box is several inches away from any metal surface and the interior temp is under 275 the hazard may be minimized. Or if you wanted you could acid remove the zinc from the outside too and paint it.

Just take the garden hose to a part of the yard that doesn't matter and wait for a breeze.

[Mark R]

I've seen discussion of this issue myself.

I think the Muratic Acid cleansing and hosing out with fresh water for the interior and inside of the lid could make sense. Then wipe the clean metal
with oil as you would a cast iron implement.

http://www.smokstak.com/forum/showthread.php?t=20143

If you remove the zinc from the interior the outside would just better protect it from the elements.

If the fire box is several inches away from any metal surface and the interior temp is under 275 the hazard may be minimized. Or if you wanted you could acid remove the zinc from the outside too and paint it.

Just take the garden hose to a part of the yard that doesn't matter and wait for a breeze.

No - you missed the point! The acid just releases the zinc and lead from their chemical binding. It's not just zinc, it's zinc and lead and some other cool heavy metals (cadmium comes to mind). It's just what you want in a salad dressing or say a BBQ mop or spritz. All gaseous mind you and oh - odorless and tasteless.

[eDJ]

Re:

Interesting. I'm reading loads of debate on this and am wondering if there is any solution ? Sandblasting ? Or just using a clean steel 55 gallon barrel.

[Mark R]

Interesting. I'm reading loads of debate on this and am wondering if there is any solution ? Sandblasting ? Or just using a clean steel 55 gallon barrel.

No it's a chemical compound, you are not going "clean" it. Now a clean steel barrel is a different story. Go for it.