I always buy the non chlorinated brake cleaner, is this any better? I will not be using it for finding leaks again but just courious.
welding warning!
- Thread starter 79fj40moneypit
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I work out at a chemical plant in Freeport that has a unit called TDI which we dubbed the Texas Death Institute, they work with Phosgene and if you work in the are you wear a badge that reacts to the gas, but the only bad part is it will kill you so fast the main reason for the badge is to let them know the Phosgene killed you...
Flank
American by Birth, Texan by the grace of God.
Damn. Close call in that article, with lasting results. Agree with posting stickies.
I made this mistake
After welding some sheet metal, sprayed on some brake cleaner to clean it up inside my truck. Bad idea. Wow, talk about powerful. Did not do that ever again.
After welding some sheet metal, sprayed on some brake cleaner to clean it up inside my truck. Bad idea. Wow, talk about powerful. Did not do that ever again.
kcustom73
Stretched it...
Good info and thanks for sharing. I was never a fan of using solvents prior to welding and now I know why.
- Thread starter
- #26
I'm bumping this back to the top we want to keep all the members aware!
back in the heyday of phosgene....
This would be a simple reminder in any garage....
This would be a simple reminder in any garage....
I knew from dealing with some of the chemicals we work with that highly poisonous gasses could result if you're not careful, but reading someone's personal experience with phosgene poisoning really drives it home. Good article, and a VERY good example of why it's so critical to be vigilant with your work environment.
Man, glad I happened in here and saw this. I knew brake cleaner is nasty crap, I try to stay away from it as much as possible, but wow!
I think the article is somewhere between hype and BS. Somebody will sic Snopes on this one sooner or later.
We use a lot of TCE at work and it is very stable and very volatile. While it could conceivably break down in an arc plasma, the main thing it will do is evaporate. It is so volatile it will be gone before you strike an arc. It is extremely unlikely to break down to phaosgene in a MIG or TIG arc because there is no oxygen. It will primarly break down to HCl or hydrochloric acid, which isn't particularly toxic. Even if it did make phosgene, the amount would be so small that it would be hard to detect let alone have a toxic effect. The label on the can is just some lawyer covering their asses. You won't find anything about those claims in the MSDS (material safety data sheet).
The testimonial may be true, but it is not related to phosgene exposure. You would have an immediate reaction, not one 9 days later. I think he had a hangover.
We use a lot of TCE at work and it is very stable and very volatile. While it could conceivably break down in an arc plasma, the main thing it will do is evaporate. It is so volatile it will be gone before you strike an arc. It is extremely unlikely to break down to phaosgene in a MIG or TIG arc because there is no oxygen. It will primarly break down to HCl or hydrochloric acid, which isn't particularly toxic. Even if it did make phosgene, the amount would be so small that it would be hard to detect let alone have a toxic effect. The label on the can is just some lawyer covering their asses. You won't find anything about those claims in the MSDS (material safety data sheet).
The testimonial may be true, but it is not related to phosgene exposure. You would have an immediate reaction, not one 9 days later. I think he had a hangover.
- Thread starter
- #31
Maybe it's true maybe it's not but thats not for us to decide.
it sounds like you are saying that you use brake cleaner when you weld and you are ok using it and nothing will happen? So you think it is hype or not true, I think that I will not try it myself and don't recomend anyone trying it as I would not want to be the one saying it fine to use.Liablity issues there.
No. I'm just throwing the BS flag.
I use a lot of TCE at work. I also work with things that make phosgene and other toxic gases. I read all the MSDS, and I am responsible if anyone Fs up. TCE is so volatile that it would evaporate before you can set up the welder and grab the stinger. Even if there was some TCE left, it is such a tiny amount that it would not be toxic if 100% of it was converted to HCl or phosgene. You would really have to go out of your way to produce toxic amounts of stuff with it.
If you use it as a normal cleaner and let it evaporate before you strike an arc you won't have any problems.
Quick blast with an air nozzle will help the evaporation process along too. Been using brake clean for years to weld prep and have had no issues. Now all the sudden I'm gonna die from it?! 
Nick
Nick
