DANGER: DO NOT USE BRAKE CLEANER on inert gas welded joints

[ozone39]

This article came across my desk last week. Pretty scary what happened to this guy. Sounds like he never did get a full recovery....

[cob]

thanks ozone39, i think your warning should be much stronger, as making this mistake appears more likely to be fatal than not. cob

[rubber duck]

Thanks for posting that. It serves as a reminder to be careful.

[MuleKicker]

I am a Ford diesel tech. i use a welder/and brake cleaner alot. I have never heard of this. quite an easy mistake to make. WOW! kinda makes you think.

[rubber duck]

I think this is the reason most manufactures of brake cleaner have removed chlorine from their formula. Chlorine is what made to older cleaner dry so fast, but chlorine gas is what was used in the trenches of ww1, bad stuff. It is still used in some cleaners.

[cob]

bump; this topic was on an automotive show today. the short version is "tetrachloroethylene (in some brake cleaners), plus, heat, and argon gas, from tig or mig welding creates PHOSGENE gas. ozone39's included article has more detail. thanks ozone39. cob

[Bayou-Ruler]

That is an interesting article

[SuburbanStiller]

Holy shit. I mean HOLY SHIT.

Sounds pretty easy to do. Sometimes I wonder that there aren't more terrorist attacks with deadly chemicals ingredients available in every little retail store.

[Popcorn Fan]

That is kind of crazy, very easy to do.....

[ozone39]

It's a good practice to always take precautions when performing any welding. Proper ventilation, personal protection gear is in good codition, and immediate area around you are all clear from volatile substances (gas cans, paint, cleaners, OTHER PEOPLE,ect). As well a minimum of a class D fire extinguisher (I personally keep a halon extinguisher handy) needs to be kept in reach. Also need to know what you are welding!! Ie: I have a friend that was welding an old motorcycle case that he thought was aluminum, when it fact it was magnesium...If anyone has ever seen magnesium burn watch out. We use to throw old magnesium cases into camp fire coals and that stuff would burn rocks,dirt, anything once it ignited!!! (kinda like an over sized sparkler)...As well, make practice to follow all manufactures recommendations when it comes to the equipment and consumables and read the MSDS (material saftey data sheets). They will inform you of any potential dangers present.... Another example is welding surfaces with galvanized coating on them. It releases a poisonous gas....So it is important to keep on your toes and stay informed.....

[manu de hanoi]

thanks for the info ozone !