Brake cleaner and welding = Phosgene

[blkscls1z]

This is a good article & it could save your life. I know I have used brake cleaner in the past to clean metal before welding.

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

[clubracergt1]

Thanks, man. I am printing that out for the techs in the shop and for our body guys.

[slowgreen99]

damn damn, thats scary. I dont weld, but my best friend does it for a living (bad bob), and he goes through some brake cleaner too. Usually not on exhuast though, so maybe hes in the clear. Otherwise, this could be an explanation on why he acts f-ed up sometimes haha

[gearmesh, inc.]

Thanks for the heads up. The only other instance of automotive related phosgene gas that I ever heard of was from the old style propane leak detectors used to find freon leaks. In the presence of refrigerant gas, the normal blue flame of propane would turn green to indicate the presence of a freon leak. From what I remember, phosgene gas was a byproduct of this green flame.

[Ballaholic29414]

After Ive worked on my engine I run it to see hows everything then I shut it down and clean it up with BRAKE CLEANER, thanx for the heads up because a lil over spray usually gets on the headers.

[BAD BOB]

yeah we used to use gunk brake cleaner and when i would be welding and someone else using the brake cleaner i would notice a sickining smell under my mask that would almost make me want to :barf:. so we stopped using that brand and im still here today