Brake cleaner can kill you

Dave in MS · Nov 14, 2011

I ran across this article, and since a lot of us tractor nuts do our own welding, I thought it would be a good one to share. I seems that mig welding + brake cleaner = Phosgene gas, which is lethal in very small doses. http://www.brewracingframes.com/id75.htm

Greenday · Nov 14, 2011

WOw, Now thats scary!

DH in Carolina · Nov 14, 2011

Freon and open flame will produce phosphene gas too which will kill you . That is if you can hang around long enough to breathe enough of it. DH

barnE · Nov 14, 2011

Only brake cleaner I have used has carbon tetrachloride as active ingredient. Thought this was banned in the 60's. Comment please. Dave

XRogerX · Nov 14, 2011

Carbon tetrachloride, perchloroethylene and trichloroethylene linked to Parkinson's Disease. I know I definitely had that "hint o' mint" on my breath when I used to be working in the solvent tank for hours cleaning up parts and lapping valve plates. Varsol probably killed my short-term memory, which has become shockingly bad.
Got the Hippy Hippy Shakes.

gtractorfan · Nov 14, 2011

This reminds me of a lesson I learned. Chasing threads on a lathe I used quite a bit of Tap Eze (I think is the name). It made a lot of smoke and fumes. Before long I felt like I was about to pass out, never used it on a lathe again.

ShadetreeRet · Nov 14, 2011

I noticed the article was written in 2009. Wonder if the poor guy is still here today?
MOST lubricants and cleaners today have SOMETHING in them that is highly dangerous in one way or another.
When I worked at an auto dealership, one of the techs was doing a brake job. He sprayed everything down with cleaner and just let the excess drip on the floor, which they all did. When he picked up the rotor it slipped out of his hand and hit the floor causing a spark. Fortunately, most of the cleaner had evaporated, it was just a small fire.

Jim in Ma. · Nov 14, 2011

Almost all of the sprays and cleaners can be dangerous.
That being said - Remember to read and understand the instructions first "Always"

BigMarv1085 · Nov 14, 2011

That is very disturbing. I still have trichlorothene cleaner in the barn. We use to use it by the gallons and sometimes you would dizzy from all of the fumes.

36 Coupe · Nov 15, 2011

carbon tet can cause liver damage with small exposure.It was used in fire extinguishers and made a good cleaner for controls in radio and tv.

farmer boy · Nov 15, 2011

I'm not worried about mig welding and brake cleaner. That stuff evaporates off everything in 2 minutes anyways. I'd be worried more about breathing that crap in or getting in on my skin. That stuff has cancer written all over it.

Dave in MS · Nov 16, 2011

The active ingrediant in brake cleaner is Tetrachloroethylene.

Bill in IL · Nov 16, 2011

Never would have thought twice about it until reading that article. Thanks

NawlensGator · Nov 16, 2011

so can milk. Read where scientists feed a white rat a gallon of milk and it exploaded.

Brake cleaner can kill you

Dave in MS

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Greenday

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DH in Carolina

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barnE

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XRogerX

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gtractorfan

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ShadetreeRet

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Jim in Ma.

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BigMarv1085

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36 Coupe

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farmer boy

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Dave in MS

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Bill in IL

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NawlensGator

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