Scrubbing Galvanized Wire with Vinegar a Myth?

[Shun Azhriaz]

Hey all,

I know many people (myself included) have made cages out of galvinized wire and patiently scrubbed it with vinegar to remove zinc. I just ran across an article that suggests all that scrubbing may be for nought. The complete artricle is at What's Everyone Squawking About? about a quarter of the way down the page.

Here's the part that got me alarmed:

"Many aviculturists mistakenly think that treating galvanized wire with a vinegar wash will remove any risk of zinc ingestion. While vinegar will dissolve small, oxidized deposits and hasten their removal with a soft brush, vinegar will not remove the zinc coating from the wire".

Anyone know any more on this? If that wire's still coated with zinc I want to get Nohea a new cage ASAP.

[Buteo]

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but getting a new cage is most likely your best bet.

Galvanized steel is the WORST possible material with which to build a bird cage. Most major manufacturers already know this and no longer use it for bird cages. Some makers do use it and are either ignorant of the risk or simply don't believe it and want to put out a product at the lowest possible price-point.

That blog is absolutely correct. I've mentioned this a couple of times about galvanized steel. Washing with vinegar will NOT remove the Zinc plating itself, only the exterior oxidization.
The only way to completely remove it is to have the cage sandblasted & acid washed....
Even after all that, there will be no guarantees that some part still doesn't have some significant trace of Zinc.
Not to mention, the entire cage will need to be re-coated with something (at least powder-coated) or it will rust with surprising speed.

The really bad news is: Unless you have a really good friend in the auto refinishing or electroplating biz who'll help you out at a significant discount, by the time all of that is done, you'll have paid more than you would have to buy a whole new cage anyway!

Sorry I couldn't offer any better alternative.

[Shun Azhriaz]

Dang, and I was so proud of my previously undiscovered handyman skills!

Well, fortunately one of the local dealers has a sale on his big cages. Unfortunately it'll have to be shipped in and will take a few weeks. I guess I'll just have to keep a close eye on Nohea until it gets here. Fortuately he's only really in his cage when he's asleep, so contact is minimized until I get something new.

This does (aaarrgh!) put my plans for the outdoor flight on hold. I'll have to go pick the brains of the local hardware guys for some nontoxic materials . . .

[ROYJOY]

home depot has plastic mesh.

[Shun Azhriaz]

Originally Posted by ROYJOY

home depot has plastic mesh.

Thanks! I'm just a little concerned that an ekkie would chew right through it.

. . . .then again, he won't be living out there, just getting his excercise . . .Hmmm. You may just have salvaged my shattered dreams!

[Monica]

Well, if your located anywhere near here (I could be way off basis), there's some cage deals ya could get without shipping...

Large Bird Cage - for sale *NEW*
Large White Bird Cage

craigslist: hawaii classifieds for jobs, apartments, personals, for sale, services, community, and events

And you could always look into a dog kennel (with stainless steel) for an outside aviary for a larger parrot...

[birdyland]

Many Supply places have stainless steel mesh for sale.

I have posted about the vinegar myth before. Not only does it NOT get all of the zinc... it can ACCELERATE rusting, thus exposing more zinc. Best method is still good ol' fashion wire brush and elbow grease. BUT Stainless is Always the better option.

[Shun Azhriaz]

Originally Posted by Monica

Well, if your located anywhere near here (I could be way off basis), there's some cage deals ya could get without shipping...

Large Bird Cage - for sale *NEW*
Large White Bird Cage

craigslist: hawaii classifieds for jobs, apartments, personals, for sale, services, community, and events

And you could always look into a dog kennel (with stainless steel) for an outside aviary for a larger parrot...

Thanks for finding those. Unfortunately I'm on Kaua'i, and a trip to Oah'u isn't really in the plans at the moment. Oh well . . . .

[Monica]

Ah, I see... and I didn't really find anything on Kaua'i as far as cages go... well, still you could try, but then again like you said a dealer is having a sale on cages! Hope you get a good deal and a good cage!

[jimpierce7]

I made glavinized cages myself and I really never thought of the vinegar removing the zinc. It facilitates the removal of the dust and oxydized stuff on the wire. Its a lot of work and not a one time deal. The addition I put on Sophie's cage is galv. steel. As soon as I figure a less destroyable way of hooking them together, I have come up with replacement walls, from microwave trays. lol New is better when it is possible thats for sure. Less likely to have problems.