Anyone that welds needs to read this

This guy is not the brightest light on the tree. I never use chemicals to clean a surface for welding other than Alcohol. Once cleaned I will blow the surface dry with compressed air and let it dry for a while before I fire up the welder.

 

Been there.....nowhere near as bad as that guy got it but I remember not being able to breathe and not sure I would make it out of the shop. I used to buy that stuff buy the case....I don't even allow it on the property anymore.

The cheap brake and carb cleaners are a lot harder on paint but clean better and don't do anything bad execpt explode

 

Unfortunately alcohol is not a very effective degreaser.

 

Actually it is a highly effective degreaser. You just have to know how to use it as one. The first step is to use shop rags to remove as much excess as possible. Then take a clean shop rag and alcohol to remove the remaining film.

The biggest problem with carb and brake cleaners is people use them as portable parts/power washers. Not only is it a waste of chemicals, it is a waste of money. I can make a can of Contact/brake cleaner last over a week in my bay. Just to put it into perspective how much work I perform? I work at the second largest Honda ATV dealer in the US, we are backed up 4-6 weeks at any given time. I average 60-70 billed hours per week and the majority of the repairs are engines, transmission and suspension.

 

Or use Cold Spray Technology instead; it cleans, repairs and coats.

http://www.supersonicspray.com/index.htm
http://www.supersonicspray.com/tech_attributes.htm

 

The best thing is simply soap and water. I even wash my aluminum and magnesium welding rod. Zep hand cleaner is 10' from my heli-arc.

 

Wow. I usually make sure my area is dry but I bet everyone on here has done something like this guy at one time or another.

 

same mistake here...i clean the area down with a very strong simply green degreaser,give a little grinding with a wheel or wire brush, then give a clean down spray with brake cleaner to remove any left over grease and dust...no more! good article to read, thanks for the info

 

No, they all s*ck compared to other options.

Alcohol is great as the final prep to remove any water or degreaser that is left but pretty ineffective at the actal degreaser.....I guess if you soak the parts maybe but you'd still be better off with something else.

 

The cheap brake cleaners that don't say anything about non-flammable are fine and that is what I use now as the final prep….just make sure the part is dry and you were spraying away from your welding table, the stuff burns really good

 

IIRC phosgene gas was developed during WW1 and required the development of new gas masks-- the ones in use against chlorine and mustard gas didn't work. In other words, the gas was found to kill people very effectively. Take care.