If you're welding..........

[GzrGlide]

please read this and take it to heart. Would hate to hear of anyone getting hurt.......

http://www.brewracingframes.com/id75.htm

I found this article in my latest American Iron magazine and found the link on another jeep website. I also have this as a pdf if anyone wants it. Print it and share it with anyone you know that welds!

I think Phosgene is actually Mustard gas. From what I could find out, any chemical with a "tri" something or other will be a deadly combination if heated and inhaled. On the EPAs hit list of chemicals to ban.

 

[jam022316]

Wow that is scary!! Thanks for the info!

 

[pipehack]

Brew posts a lot on a biker forum I belong to... That's some scary sh!t ......Considering I'm welding in my garage today...

 

[PumpkinCrusher]

Wow, thanks for the post.

 

[Vernmotor]

Thank you for that post..Hell I use brake clean on all kinds of stuff..and have welded before..wew..thats not good !!

 

[ps junkslinger]

thanks fo the info..............I use brake cleaner for all sorts of things I should not. I will think twice now

 

[shovel]

WOW! Thanks for posting this. I coulda been "that guy" ! I now know better.

 

[wreckercologist]

I just sent the link to a bunch of my friends.

I can't believe I'm not dead. I've done this exact thing, only I guess the brake clean had evaporated fully. This will weigh on my mind next time.

Thanks GzrGlide

 

[Skyline]

There are two basic varieties of brake cleaner. I think one is "cfc free", which is NOT the one I normally buy. I guess it's supposed to be more "green". I wonder if this makes a difference in it's conversion to phosgene.

 

[Mattlt]

Probably goes without saying, but I'll say it anyway. Maybe there's someone out there that's never heard of it.

Metal Fume Fever. Caused by welding galvanized metals.

I know I've welded galvanized pipe years ago - before I knew better.

 

[benjamming]

Non-chlorinated brake cleaner is acetone, naphtha, propane, xylene, etc type solvents. Chlorinated brake cleaner is trichloroethylene (tric), same as used by many dry cleaners. Chlorinated Brake Cleaner MSDS 3M Non-Chlorinated Brake Cleaner MSDS
So you can see that non-chlorinated is probably not going to form phosgene. However, non-chlorinated brake cleaners differ in composition.

 

[smooth72]

Thanks for the post, I use brake cleaner all the time, I am passing this on to all I know.

 

[wreckercologist]

Metal Fume Fever. Caused by welding galvanized metals.

I know I've welded galvanized pipe years ago - before I knew better.

Ditto on the galvanized.

 

[Diesel_Crawler]

A little off topic but speaking of gasses, there was man not to long ago trying to flush his break lines with pure oxygen while under the car a while ago, because he did not have a compressor.

 

[benjamming]

pure oxygen? Wow. Talk about an explosion hazard. Darwin candidate for sure.

 

[Diesel_Crawler]

pure oxygen? Wow. Talk about an explosion hazard. Darwin candidate for sure.

He did not make it through the "accident". They came with a putty knife and wet vac to clean him up.

 

[russlaferrera]

A little puff of gas, No big deal. Most people feel that way. THANK YOU for the post!

I'll add this to the many times I've been WRONG!!

 

[bimmer1980]

wow, that is scary! I seem to recall using either some brake cleaner or carb cleaner on various items to clean grease and gunk off before welding..... that's alarming!!

 

[Skyline]

Here's a link to the CDC description of Phosgene:

http://www.bt.cdc.gov/agent/phosgene/basics/facts.asp

One very important consideration is that Phosgene can be absorbed through the skin.

 

[79pacecar]

Thanks for the post!!! I forwarded the link to both my Dad & Brother

 

[tbgallant]

Ok guys, so what SHOULD we use to clean oily metal before welding?

Wax and Grease remover? Or..

Tim

 

[Brad54]

Also, if you've got young boys at home, tell them about this.
Young boys have been (ahem...) know to, on occasion (cough..) to take an aerosol spray can and a Bic lighter and make a flame thrower.

The results could be horrible if one grabs your can of brake cleaner. I had this discussion with Boy Wonder.

-Brad

 

[JakeD]

Ok guys, so what SHOULD we use to clean oily metal before welding?

Wax and Grease remover? Or..

Tim

I've been using mineral spirits.

 

[riley.m]

Probably goes without saying, but I'll say it anyway. Maybe there's someone out there that's never heard of it.

Metal Fume Fever. Caused by welding galvanized metals.

I know I've welded galvanized pipe years ago - before I knew better.

If you ever happen to do it again, you should know that drinking milk really helps the sickness.

 

[riley.m]

Ok guys, so what SHOULD we use to clean oily metal before welding?

Wax and Grease remover? Or..

Tim

I have been using acetone for cleaning greasy aluminum for years.

 

[Jack Olsen]

I buy 409 cleaner by the gallon. It's good before you paint, too.

 

[Vicegrip]

denatured alcohol works well and does not leave a residue.

 

[Pat]

Mike,

Thank you for the very informative article. If possible I would like to have a copy in the pdf format.........thanks,

Pat