Welding and brake clean hazard

[trialsguy]

This may have been posted before but I just found out about so I thought I would pass this very important message along.

Brake clean when heated say while welding will emit a very dangerous gas
here is the link Brake Cleaner = Phosgene Article

I use brake clean all the time and easy could have done this

 

[Transit]

BAD, BAD news. You may be in need of medical help NOW!!! Treat it as a HART ATTACK, if left untreated you may have lung problems a year from now.

 

[trialsguy]

No I didn't have this happen to me, I am sorry I wasn't clear when I posted but I wanted to get the info out fast. A buddy of mines co-worker was welding I assume on a elevator since that's what he does for a living, While welding he welded into brake clean which I guess he used to remove grease or oil and it puffed up and now they don't think he is going to survive, his kidneys liver and lungs are shutting down and has some sort of nerve damage he is on some sort of support. Very very bad, I hadnt ever heard of this so I wanted to pass it along as quick as possible

 

[Transit]

Sorry to hear about your friends condition. This subject has been discussed on welding forums before. It dose not take much to get into trouble, some guys just get a small whiff and get a little light headed, shrug it off and two days later are on life support. Even if you wipe the cleaner off some may be left behind in crakes and crevasses just waiting to get you. There are other cleaners just as dangerous. Do not think about treatment at the end of the day when you have time, it is off to the ER NOW!!! You could be a Macho-man with a toe tag.

 

[Deano]

Thanks...good to know!!


Deano

 

[Transit]

Thanks...good to know!!


Deano

I reposted this unfortunate story again as a wake-up call. Some never were aware of the danger.

Brake Cleaner Can Kill: When to Take Safety Warnings Seriously | Popular Science

 

[Roy B]

same thing happened to my ex-boss in a bike shop about a year ago, nasty stuff. his website has a pretty detailed article about it, check out brewracingframes.com

 

[JB4310]

Doesn't brake cleaner flash off faster than just about anything on the planet, at least the good ones, that's why we use it for cleaning jobs other than brakes.

Unless it's the newer eco friendly types, I don't see how you could "weld into it" Unless you had a helper spraying it 4 inches in front of your bead. Or is it the residue left behind?

Sorry, I didn't read the whole link.

Not to down play it, as that warning on the can sounds pretty ominous, but did you ever read the side effects of the medicines we put in our mouths or the warnings right on the welding rod package.

JB.

 

[Transit]

Doesn't brake cleaner flash off faster than just about anything on the planet, at least the good ones, that's why we use it for cleaning jobs other than brakes.

Unless it's the newer eco friendly types, I don't see how you could "weld into it" Unless you had a helper spraying it 4 inches in front of your bead. Or is it the residue left behind?

Sorry, I didn't read the whole link.

Not to down play it, as that warning on the can sounds pretty ominous, but did you ever read the side effects of the medicines we put in our mouths or the warnings right on the welding rod package.

JB.

No doubt about it all being bad stuff. The problem with break cleaner is that as it decomposes at high temperatures the by-products are deadly. If it did as you say, we would not be posting these stories about the dangers.
At onetime we feared Lions, and Tigers, and Bares....oh my! Now bad things come in small cans.

 

[k0ua]

Doesn't brake cleaner flash off faster than just about anything on the planet, at least the good ones, that's why we use it for cleaning jobs other than brakes.

Unless it's the newer eco friendly types, I don't see how you could "weld into it" Unless you had a helper spraying it 4 inches in front of your bead. Or is it the residue left behind?

Sorry, I didn't read the whole link.

Not to down play it, as that warning on the can sounds pretty ominous, but did you ever read the side effects of the medicines we put in our mouths or the warnings right on the welding rod package.

JB.

From some evidence on some of these poisonings that have occurred, apparently the fluid can hide in crevices and rust pits and be vaporized by the weld arc.