GregN
Well-known member
Don't clean a part using Brake Cleaner then weld.
Read this:
http://www.brewracingframes.com/id75.htm
Read this:
http://www.brewracingframes.com/id75.htm
*WARNING* - Brake Cleaner and Welding
- Thread starter GregN
- Start date
Ign
Well-known member
Chlorinated only, and this is not new
Sorry, I didn't know that this was old news. I have never heard of this. I just thought that if I posted it and enlightened one person it would be worth it. Yes, the clorinated brake cleaner has Tetrachloroethylene, which is the problem child (from what I understand). I have used brake cleaner before (many times) to clean something before welding. I usually use the non-chlorinated stuff, but I have never really thought about it.
akdiesel
Well-known member
This is always a good reminder in any case, but there are many deadly gasses that are created from welding, just make sure your area is well ventilated when ever welding anything.
ironheadtom
Well-known member
This is real important info. I did not know this until recently. I don't know if the cleaner I was using was chlorinated for sure or not, but I have been cleaning all my parts with it prior to welding for years. One good thing is living in a warm climate I think it was pretty well evaporated and I use a respirator about 90% of the time. Not taking chances anymore though.
Busted_Knuckles
Well-known member
Hey, thanks for the post, albeit old, was new to me, I buy chlorinated brake clean by the case, its my best friend (and I'm sure worst enemy). I do some maintenance welding every once in a great while, and was not the least bit aware of this lurking tragedy. I clean everything with brake clean, and could easily boil a small puddle of it without the least bit of thought as to the consequences!
Thanks again, Bill
Thanks again, Bill
Yeah, the part that sruck me as odd is that it isn't bad if you just heat it; it is the heating it wile Argon Gas is present that makes it deadly. I never would have thought of some kind of chemical reaction. I have always thought that heat is heat, but forget about the shielding gas.
sberry
Banned
The stuff does react, I try to use it outdoors, even in my large building I can tell when it reacts with the heater in my office but I got to have some doubts about this story though unless the guy was sitting in a puddle of it with unvented building. A little dab in a pit would be gone so fast.
sberry
Banned
I am not sure about argon, which is inert, I think the concern is UV rays?
Something like this happened to my coworker. He was using a cutting torch, and when the part fell off it fell on some open cell foam (black foam about 1" thick). It produced a puff of black smoke. It knocked him on his @$$. He barely inhaled anything. A little can go a long way.
Yeah, I thought that Argon was Inert too. Maybe it is just the initial extreme heat, and not a gradual heat (torch).
Yeah, I thought that Argon was Inert too. Maybe it is just the initial extreme heat, and not a gradual heat (torch).
Joe69
Well-known member
I was welding on a backhoe many years ago. It was a greasy spot, so I cleaned it with brake-kleen before welding. I got pretty sick from the fumes, and I was stick welding. I had to sit outside for about half an hour to get feeling decent. Ever since, I have been sensitive to the smell of brake-kleen. I'm not convinced that it's only when exposed to argon. I'm still praying that I didn't do any permanent damage that may show up later in life.
Nowadays, I don't chemically clean anything I'm going to weld. I just burn the contaminants out with a torch. I'm still burning petroleum, but at least I'm not adding any other chemicals. And I do it in a well ventilated area.
Joe
Nowadays, I don't chemically clean anything I'm going to weld. I just burn the contaminants out with a torch. I'm still burning petroleum, but at least I'm not adding any other chemicals. And I do it in a well ventilated area.
Joe
cyamaha2007
Well-known member
Wow im worried i didnt know this. My friend just got a tig welder we were welding on some pitted metal the welds sucked so he cleaned it with brake cleaner. The fumes sucked we had no idea. we kept welding thinking it was due to pitted metal. Now at 20 i have to worry that im f-ed up.
benjamming
Well-known member
The concern is thermal decomposition to phosgene gas.
Yup.
Some searching shows that it's heating of a chorinated liquid that makes phosgene gas, not a reaction with argon or UV rays or anything of that sort. What's scary is that you can breathe this stuff and have no issues, then get "hit" by it 48 hours later.
http://www.bt.cdc.gov/agent/phosgene/basics/facts.asp
ironheadtom
Well-known member
Don't worry, you'll have plenty more things in life to f you up way worse than that!
Professur
Well-known member
I think the issue is that the argon 'shields' the reaction, allowing the phosgene to form. An unshielded reaction might form other compounds as the decomposing chlorate reacted with O2 in the air.
Salem747
Well-known member
That's why the squareheads dumped it on the allies in Europe during WWI along with Mustard (chlorine) gas.
Emulsifide
Member
- Joined
- May 6, 2009
- Messages
- 18
This is exactly why I don't use chlorinated brake cleaner. That **** is nasty for you. Even though it doesn't work as good, I use the non-chlorinated stuff.
benjamming
Well-known member
Non-chlorinated can be just as nasty. Xylene, etc. aren't human friendly.
Brew had this happen almost a year ago. Great to hear he's up and running even though this is OLD news.
engineer2
Well-known member
For the same reasons never spray brake cleaner into an engine air intake.
shamrock12
Well-known member
Wow, never heard how deadly it could be even with good common sense. Thanks for sharing, this critical story could save someone's life! 
FANTASY FACTORY
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jul 1, 2009
- Messages
- 55
A lil R-12 dont the carb of a running engine gets PITA customers out of the shop also.
Mr.Nutcase
Well-known member
I did not know that....
Good information. I was unaware of the reaction issues as well. I use lots of brake cleaner, but haven't used it to cleanup of parts I'll be welding. I usually just brush 'em good with a knotted wire wheel on a 4 1/2" grinder. Guess I've been just plain lucky so far.
Thanks for posting.
Dale
Thanks for posting.
Dale