Galvanizing treatment as a method to protect tools used in teaching processes. This paper presents the use of zinc coating applied on surfaces of wood machining tools - exhibits in teaching processes. Analyses were conducted to determine resistance of applied coatings to the action of various environments, which in an accelerated manner assessed suitability of coatings as a method of tool protection, mainly in terms of their contact with users. Very advantageous effects of zinc coating application were observed in the analyzed variant. Galvanizing processes and the resulting coatings made it possible to identify defects in the material structure of the tools, being the most frequent results of intensive operation and wear.