hi guys, i work at a galvanising plant and sometimes stuff we dip does warp. usually longer items with welded bits running down. we dip the chassis from richards chassis, but ive not seen a bulkhead dipped.
we preheat items in the flux tank prior to dipping, but its only 70 degrees or so, the zinc bath is 450 ish.holes are needed to allow air to escape,and then to drain the zinc.trapped air rapidly heats/expands and if trapped can explode sending molten zinc flying :clap2: and a loud bang.
as a bulkhead has inner channels etc its a slow dip to allow all the air to escape and then zinc to drain.
i wouldnt weld a brace to stop any warpage as this would cause a mess when grinding off the brace.you would have bits not galved.
have i done my bulkhead? nope.
would i? you bet.
iam planning a total rebuild in 2014, and believe me, anything that i can galvanise i will.
oh, and to anyone thinking about getting anything dipped, heres something to think about.
if its still got paint on, dont worry, a pre-dip in the galv bath will fetch off the paint,but try and get as much crap off before you take yourbits, then it goes through the acid and flux before a final dip in the zinc.
also try going to your local gav plant on a weekend, ahem, when there,s no gaffers around, you might just get your stuff dipped for a couple of quid and a bag of sweets.