Galv garden light posts set in concrete

[EarthRod]

Hello

I'm doing a bit of work for a relative which partly involves setting galvanised steel posts for lighting in part of their garden. Now, these posts are to be set in concrete and in the good old days I'd use red lead paint on any steel which went in concrete to stop corrosion.

Given that red lead paint is evil now and very expensive, does anybody know of an alternative for protecting steel work, and more to the point galv steel, which is to be set in concrete?

Thanks

 

[ModernMaterials]

I could well be missing the point but isnt steel galvanised to protect it from rust?

 

[JohnD]

galvanising delays rust, but sacrifies itself by corroding away. Once the zinc has gone the steel rusts.

Galvanised underground will lose its zinc quite quickly.

The paint will protect the zinc, and the zinc will protect the steel in the event of any water penetration through chips and scratches in the paint, or water creep underneath it which (in the case of plain steel) would allow rust to spread under the paint and push it off.

Ordinary metal primers will not usually adhere well, but there are lots of primers for galvanised, the more modern (20th century) ones do not require it to be weathered or treated with a mordant solution.

Here is a picture of a galvanised steel roof where the zinc has been lost due to age

 

[sandwell]

I would try and get some Denso tape, or something similar

See here
http://www.denso.net/

 

[Deluks]

here or how about getting them powder coated?