Watering can, galvanised on outside only?

Jun 08, 2021 Last reply: 5 years ago 11 Replies

Sick of all the plastic crap i've watched fade and crack over the years, when I wanted a watering can I bought a nice shiny metal one.



I was pouring rusty water on my plants the other day and noted that it's galvanised on the outside, but only the top inch or so on the inside.



So i'm emptying it each use and putting it away somewhere dry, seems pointless to me galvanising it at all.



Is that right/normal?


Not IME. A decent can is heavily galvanised inside and out. I've got an ex WD can that I bought from an army surplus place about 50 years ago and there's not a spot of rust on it. IMO the best cans are made by Haws, traditional, they've been making cans for ever, and expensive.

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don't see how that's possible Hot dip galvanizing you have to immerse the whole thing in a tank

But most cheaper stuff these days is *not* hot dip, it's some sort of zinc plating, although I'm not sure how that works.

Also, it may have been coated before manufacture.

I was going to suggest that Sir paints the inside with Black Jack (coal tar varnish), but it seems you can't get that any more. There's probably a not so good substitute...

I bet i've spent more over the years than a decent can from them.

No, But it may be these days, seems completely ridiculous though. I have come across some Upvc ones you see them often in garden centres used by the company if they have on site growing fields or greenhouses, often in a nondescript cream colour and a bit thicker and more sturdy than your average crap ones. I wonder there they get them from? Luckily since I can't see plants now, I tend to not worry about such things. Brian

Or you dip the bottom 7/8ths which is water tight and only galvanises the outside and then turn it over and dip the top 1/8th which is open and therefore gets galvanised on inside and outside.

You've had a chemical in it that's removed the coating.

Mike

It's had nobbut water in it. And an occasional teaspoon of Phostrogen.

modern galvanising seems to be so thin it is just a film on the metal surface. I replaced the manhole cover behind my house 25 years ago and within 10 years the galvanising has just gone, to be replaced by rust. If I had known this would happen I would have paid a bit more for one that was intended for public access areas (but not vehicle-proof).

Buy cheap and you will buy twice. Drat.

I think I paid £3 for mine at a car boot sale and it is perfect. Has that really dark grey rough surface that you would expect from something made in the UK.

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