For you welders and a general warning

[sweetbmxrider]

Never hurts to freshen up the brain on what can kill you

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

[Jersey Mike]

Wow. Good read. You'll find that combination in anyone's garage. Definitely something I didn't know...

[Lt1_8U]

Wow! That's insane. Thanks for posting this up man

[Blackbirdws6]

Brew Dude looks like UBG.

[donnj]

Learned of this years ago, good post! I do alot of paint work both large and small. In the winter months its very hard to paint due to the cold so I used to clean the smaller items with either cholrinated or non-chlorinated brake cleaner if I ran out of reducer, followed heating the piece with a propane torch after the part was cleaned and dry just to promote better adhesion and the fumes from that were so potent it was like breathing fire and I would have a killer headache for hours. Finally figured out it was the film left on the metal from the brake clean.

Photokeratitis - welders flash is another NO NO in the garage...

Be safe guys

http://stickweld.com/safety/welding-flash/

[transmaro93]

thanks for posting... will deff keep that in back of mind from now on... amazing how a puff of smoke can do all that damage

[Featherburner]

Thanks for the warning. It's amazing how complacent we get when we work with this stuff every day!

[The_Bishop]

Wow, that's something to remember.

[BigAls87Z28]

I've burned brake clean tons of times? Didn't know it was dangerous.

[Dudbird113]

Brake clean is usually what i use to clean ma stuff. Cant be worse than welding galvanized stuff haha.

[The_Bishop]

Brake clean, combined with the high temps of the welding arc, and argon from the shielding gas.

[z28camaro94]

Great post here!!! I never even thought about this. I cant even remember how many times Ive done this. Must be really lucky. Read up guys!

[Featherburner]

Brake clean is usually what i use to clean ma stuff. Cant be worse than welding galvanized stuff haha.I think it can!

[91chevywt]

I once used a bunch of (chlorinated) brake cleaner with a propane heater on in the garage. The fumes must have made it to the flame and started burning because for a full half hour after that I experienced nonstop uncontrollable coughing. Never again.

[madness410]

very good read, i'll keep that in the back of my head.

the guy honestly should have checked himself into the hospital after he regained control after the seizure though and not waited days...

[Dudbird113]

Theres only non chlorenated brake cleaner know so wouldnt that be less toxic if burnt?

[NJ Torque]

Theres only non chlorenated brake cleaner know so wouldnt that be less toxic if burnt?


You can get either...

[The_Bishop]

I wouldn't want to inhale either one, personally.

[S.J.SLEEPER]

I read that article a few years back... after talking to a few VERY experienced welders, I found out that alot of them didn't know about this. Very good info and good looking out for us bud.

[PolarBear]

You can get either...

Please tell me where, I have only found the non-chlorinated crap now and it doesn't work at all as far as I am concerned.

[Paul Huryk]

Please tell me where, I have only found the non-chlorinated crap now and it doesn't work at all as far as I am concerned.

Agreed

[Featherburner]

Please tell me where, I have only found the non-chlorinated crap now and it doesn't work at all as far as I am concerned.

Agreed

I get it here...
http://www.tractorsupply.com/automotive-additives/pyroil-chlorinated-brake-parts-cleaner-18-oz--1033242?zoneMarketInfo=2-16&reqUrl=%2Fautomotive-additives%2Fpyroil-chlorinated-brake-parts-cleaner-18-oz--1033242&langId=-1&storeId=10551&storeCity=city%2C+state&catalogId=10001&storeZip=08618&ddkey=http:LocationBasedPricingCmd

[Dudbird113]

I know u cant buy it in nj at a store. Pretty sure u can in PA. Ive burnt the brake cleaner when welding and hasnt really done anything. Most the time i hit my surface with a 120 grit grinder. Wat i weld doesnt have to look showlike because its bowling machine parts. Besides it wouldnt really make a difference and lit a puddle of that stuff up with a lighter no?

[The_Bishop]

Just because you've gotten lucky and haven't hit the 'jackpot' yet doesn't mean it's harmless or smart. You could end up with long term illnesses and/or lung damage from cumulative exposure.

[Dudbird113]

Im pretty sure the smoke thats generated from welding in general isnt good for u. Besides im gonna die someday, not gonna live in a bubble my whole life.

[PolarBear]

Im pretty sure the smoke thats generated from welding in general isnt good for u. Besides im gonna die someday, not gonna live in a bubble my whole life.

Let me guess, you're about 20 years old?

Instead of taking extremely good advice you are going to ignore a warning that could actually KILL you and is completely avoidable? Yeah you deserve what you get

[Dudbird113]

22 actually. And no i dont weld once in a blue moon. I weld at least once a week for a couple hours. Been doing this for 4 years. Im not an idiot, I take it into consideration and use bits and pieces of ur advice. Do any of u guys weld? Or read an article and go hmm it says this is bad and i wont do that IF i ever weld? Like smoking, it can kill u but people still smoke.

[The_Bishop]

I weld. Not on a professional level, but enough to heed the warning. I've gotten welder's burn though disregarding warnings about the UV in a welding arc, so now I have a welder's jacket. I learned a long time ago that smoke kills, fast or slow, so I make sure I'm well ventilated when I do, as much as possible. I know all about the dangers of phosgene gas from many hazmat classes on the FD. Now I know that certain brake cleaners combined with shield gas in the right circumstances can kill me, so you can bet I'll take precautions. I know the 'immortal' feeling of being young, but a lot of older guys are giving you some good advice; take care of your health now or you'll pay hell for it later.

[WildBillyT]

22 actually. And no i dont weld once in a blue moon. I weld at least once a week for a couple hours. Been doing this for 4 years. Im not an idiot, I take it into consideration and use bits and pieces of ur advice. Do any of u guys weld? Or read an article and go hmm it says this is bad and i wont do that IF i ever weld? Like smoking, it can kill u but people still smoke.

Death is the easy end vs. a lifetime of medical issues. Ever see a smoker with a stoma or on O2?

Assuming that you are safe from something because you can't see it is both arrogant and dangerous. Fwiw I have spent plenty of time making sparks and see no downside to being careful.

[Dudbird113]

Yea i have seen a smoker with a stoma, my buddys dad. For some reason i dont get welders burn anymore. My arms are usually tan now a days haha. Rarely get sunburn anymore. I know im not immortal, as u all can tell just thick headed atm.

[townsend]

i deal with this at work, since i do commercial air conditioning and deal with cfc, hcfc, and hfc refrigerants. you'd be suprised how often no matter what you do to get all the refrigerant out of a system before brazing or soldering, you still get a little pocket bubble or something of vapor that all of a sudden decides it wants to go poof and decompose into phosgene when doing hot work. when i did residential, a 30-year mechanic was replacing a compressor in a small condensing unit and nearly died from the reefer vapor being released from the oil when he was brazing, which decomposed into phosgene when it came out of the joint and was exposed to the open torch flame.

[monte383sbc]

great write up

[Kat]

I can attest to welders flash.. Screw that cheeet. Its like having sand paper in your eyes everytime ya open and close them. That is what I got for just tacking without a helmet.. :(