Cleaning Before Galvanizing

Shot blasting or tumbling are more effective with none of the potential problems associated with pickling. This is particularly true when hot dip galvanizing carbon and alloy steels with hardness above about 32 Rc (301 BHN). Pickling harder material without inhibitors in the bath or bakeout following pickling increases the potential for hydrogen embrittlement in some structures and service conditions due to the absorption of nacent hydrogen into the surface.

Two design rules. Don't use any more carbon than necessary and don't make it any harder than necessary.