safety warning.. This could save a life

[Turbo Indian]

I just saw this on the Pontiac website and thought it was well worth passing on over here..
Brake Cleaner = Phosgene Article
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[Geoff87]

Wow! I had no idea....

Thanks for the info.

 

[forcedfedv6]

Damnnnn.. thanks for the info..

 

[QuickBuick87]

I know brake cleaner is some nasty sh*t, but never thought about what might happen if heated like this guy did. WOW!! I've gotten it on my hands many times and never flushed for 15 minutes either. Hmmmm, might look for something a lil safer in the future!

Ken

 

[DailyDrifter]

I use brake cleaner like its going out of style, BUT I dont weld around it. Thanks for the heads up.

 

[101prf]

You get the same thing if you burn refrigerants!

 

[Squid4life]

I use brake cleaner like its going out of style, BUT I dont weld around it. Thanks for the heads up.

X2. I should own stock in it.

 

[Black3]

You would think with all the Lincoln Locker welded diffs that are usually prepped by soaking down the carrier with brake clean, that this would be more common.

 

[SPOOLFOOL2]

Wow!

I had no idea.

Thanks. Mike

 

[yullose]

I'll tell you another wicked chemical... scared the crap out of me...

MEK (methyl ethyl ketone)

I got a good whiff of the stuff one time when I soaked a rag with it to clean a machine I was working on... The stuff just about knocked me on my ass... My nuts tingled like they were on fire for a good half hour.

VERY bizzare reaction.

 

[Blown&Injected]

I have seen a case of the stuff get used in a welding shop - I have used it myself MIG welding and nobody was cleaning it off like the guy in that article - NEVER a problem.

It has also been used MANY times as a flaming fly swatter - works great!

Since argon is an inert gas, I do not know why it would be responsible for what was claimed.

I am not saying to do it - but my BS detector is chirping

 

[O SO LO]

Older cans of Rapid Tap used to have Tetrachloroethylene in it as well, so If you have a old can take a look...and be aware!!

 

[GNTIM]

I have had a couple of scares with R-12 being sucked in an engine and creating Fosgene, but the brake cleaner thing is new to me.

 

[BadAssGN]

I have seen a case of the stuff get used in a welding shop - I have used it myself MIG welding and nobody was cleaning it off like the guy in that article - NEVER a problem.

It has also been used MANY times as a flaming fly swatter - works great!

Since argon is an inert gas, I do not know why it would be responsible for what was claimed.

I am not saying to do it - but my BS detector is chirping

I just read the MSDS sheet on the brake clean we use at work and I can tell you that your BS alarm can be put away.

The warning says if you heat the product over 250 celcius the three gasses mentioned can form.

Be careful.

 

[at7we2]

also use lots of brake cleaner around the garage, was unaware of this particular danger.

I also use Birchwood Casey "Gun Scrubber" for it's intended purpose and it seems to be about the same stuff as brake cleaner, not sure, but I would assume it is and therefore carries the same risk.

bump for good info.

 

[Turbo Indian]

as of now, 491 views & 15 posts. it looks like this was some useful info & may have saved someone from having to find this out in person.

 

[$1987 GN$]

He has all of the worst possible .

There are different types of brake clean; not all have the same chemicals.

Also phosgene is heavy and drops like a rock.

He must have stuck his head down into the gas?

Remember WWI it was used there in the trenches and it would stay down there.

Later AJ

 

[Blown&Injected]

I just read the MSDS sheet on the brake clean we use at work and I can tell you that your BS alarm can be put away.

The warning says if you heat the product over 250 celcius the three gasses mentioned can form.

Be careful.

Yep, I just looked and it said:
Hazardous Decomposition Products:HYDROGEN CHLORIDE AND SOME PHOSGENE FORMED DURING COMBUSTION.

About welding and INERT argon gas: the best part about the brake clean is that it evaporates and leaves no residue - who welds wet metal? Maybe the argon shields the brake clean from oxygen in the air when heated and does something ??? but I don't know how so many have managed to use it for so long without bodies piling up.

 

[SloGN]

Yep, I just looked and it said:
Hazardous Decomposition Products:HYDROGEN CHLORIDE AND SOME PHOSGENE FORMED DURING COMBUSTION.

About welding and INERT argon gas: the best part about the brake clean is that it evaporates and leaves no residue - who welds wet metal? Maybe the argon shields the brake clean from oxygen in the air when heated and does something ??? but I don't know how so many have managed to use it for so long without bodies piling up.

thats some scary $hit as i have used brake cleaner just like card cleaner and noticed the terrible smell and the white smoke.

 

[Blown&Injected]

Even though I am talking like no big deal - I sure will not burn it again!

Thanks for the thread Steve.