Turbocharger Posted July 18, 2011 Share Posted July 18, 2011 I didn't know this but I spent the weekend in Flanders studying the history of WW1, and our guide mentioned the use of chemical warfare, particularly phosgene gas. On doing some reading afterwards, I hadn't realised but there's a serious hazard here for us all. Brake cleaner contains trichloroethylene, and welding heat OR THE UV RADIATION from the arc can be enough to dissociate it, where it forms phosgene. It's powerful enough to be fatal at 4 ppm, and gives you a nasty turn at lower concentrations The same is true of freon, though I don't think our A/C systems are likely to use this refridgerant. This chap had a close call with it. Be careful out there folks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
L19MUD Posted July 19, 2011 Share Posted July 19, 2011 Scary! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pete3000 Posted July 19, 2011 Share Posted July 19, 2011 Brake cleaner contains trichloroethylene, tetrachloroethylene, similar. Sounds more nasty (and fatal)than Galv, but you are more likely to accidentaly weld galv and breathe the fume. Also not good for you. http://www.anvilfire.com/iForge/tutor.php?lesson=safety3/demo Pete Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CwazyWabbit Posted July 19, 2011 Share Posted July 19, 2011 tetrachloroethylene, similar. Sounds more nasty (and fatal)than Galv, but you are more likely to accidentaly weld galv and breathe the fume. Also not good for you. http://www.anvilfire.com/iForge/tutor.php?lesson=safety3/demo Pete Welding Galv leaves the back of the weld really nice as the burning zinc keeps oxygen away from the weld. Obviously your life is a high price to pay for an aesthetically appealing weld though. When my dad was first welding they used to be advised to drink a pint of milk after welding galvanised steel ... I wonder if there was actually any benefit from that? The fumes do make your lungs ache for a day or two afterwards when you take deep breaths, although I imagine the damage is longer lasting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reb78 Posted July 19, 2011 Share Posted July 19, 2011 Thanks for that! I'll stop cleaning stuff i'm welding with brake cleaner now then! I wonder if thats why i felt funny yesterday after welding the holes up in my footwells! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
secondjeremy Posted July 19, 2011 Share Posted July 19, 2011 I don't think there'll be much left to produce phosgene when its dried and the vapour has cleared. In any event a Mig will tend to blow vapour away from the actual welding. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Superpants Posted July 20, 2011 Share Posted July 20, 2011 As far as I know, UK (and other European) brake cleaners haven't contained trichloroethylene for a pretty long time and in general you'd be hard pressed to find products with it in for home or light industrial use. A typical commercial brake cleaner Wurth Brake cleaner certainly doesn't contain it. Whilst we should be careful of what we subject ourselves to in our workshops, I wouldn't unduly worry either!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Night Train Posted July 20, 2011 Share Posted July 20, 2011 I wish someone had told me about not welding galv when I first started working on cars. I was head down in the foot well welding up holes with galvanised steel sheet much of the time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cartman Posted July 21, 2011 Share Posted July 21, 2011 So what transport did you take in the end as I remember a PH post debating the options? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mo Murphy Posted July 21, 2011 Share Posted July 21, 2011 When my dad was first welding they used to be advised to drink a pint of milk after welding galvanised steel ... I wonder if there was actually any benefit from that? We used to get free milk at work because we used lead on vehicle bodies Mo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Turbocharger Posted July 21, 2011 Author Share Posted July 21, 2011 Cartman - I took an SLK. The Jag was short-lived and I decided the Ninety would send me deaf. I hope this post (with its confusion over trichloro... and tetrachloro...) has saved one person's accidental trip to A&E. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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