Brake Cleaner + Welding = DEATH!

[mgbeda]

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

I came across this and thought anyone who welds on their car, which probably includes a fair number of CLC members, should be aware of it.

The short version is that tetrachloroethylene, the active ingredient in brake cleaner, when combined with heat (like from welding) and argon gas (used in MIG and TIG welding) makes phosgene, a potent and deadly nerve gas.  One whiff can kill you, or leave you with lung, kidney, pancreas and/or brain damage.

The scariest thing (for me) is that a few weeks earlier I had done the same thing; cleaned my frame with brake cleaner and then MIG welded on it.  I was probably saved because of my limited free time; I did the cleaning one day and then welding another day, presumably after the cleaner had evaporated.  Needless to say I'll never do that again.

Be careful out there.

-mB

[Ken Perry]

Good to know,will remember and pass it on. Thank You! One more benefit of the C.L.C.     Ken Perry

[dadscad]

Thanks for posting this, I passed this along to a lot of folks I know, that do or over see welding.

[RobW]

Phosgene can also be produced when brazing refrigerant lines. So be careful when trying to repair lines even if the system has been evacuated, there still might be enough residue left behind.

[Tomoldcars]

As my garage contains both TIG and MIG welders as well as lots of cans of cleaners including brake, I can see a problem. I’m posting a link to this on all my forums and I shall print it out and present it to every one with a garage and tools. It is worth a second thought.
Stay safe,     Tom

[Glen]

It sticks in my mind that someone on this forum had this happen to them.  They were in the hospital for some time and when he got home he posted about it, but I can not find that thread. 

It is good that this comes up every once in a while to help spread the word and remind us of this. 

[Bill Caddyshack]

This is a true danger!  Phosgene is one carbon atom with two chlorines and an oxygen atom to it.  Tetrachloroethylene is two chlorines on a carbon that's connected to another carbon with two chlorines.  So with high heat and oxygen the carbon-carbon bond is broken and the two pieces connected to oxygen....BINGO two phosgene molecules.