Welding fumes

[gregishome]

Just wanted to stop in and contribute something here on this promising forum. I am one of those that has been "teaching" myself to weld (mig/stick) through forum site reading and just by welding a project by the seat of my britches. I know, not the best way to learn welding, but my age and time limitations prevail...

So, I browse around on a lot of welding sites to learn more about welding. I noticed a post the other day on a forum, where a fellow ended up in the hospital with serious complications from a welding project that he was working on....

He was using aeresol brake cleaner to degrease some of the plate steel that he was welding up. He said that he was sure that he had wiped the plate clean of the fluid, but apparently he didnt get all of it..

He sizzled some of the cleaner that was laying in a depression of the steel plate and instantly fumes rose up from it, that he inhaled....

After a few days of having flue like sysptoms, he ended up in the hospital a very sick man, with possible permanent damage to some internal organs....

Weld safely folks, to assure that not only the safety of the property is considered, but even more importantly, insure your own well being.

Greg

[jmnew51]

Good post Greg.
I belive the UV rays from the welding arc reacts with the cloronated solvents in the brake cleaner and forms Phosgene gas which is highly toxic and was used as a chemical weapon in WWI or WWII I believe. I had a similar experience one time using brake cleaner to degrease what I was going to weld. The fumes hit me like a ton of bricks. It literally took my breathe away. I came away unscathed unlike the poor fellow in your post.
Yes safety must always be your number one concern when you are welding anything.


Jim

[CycleZen]

The phosgene gas warning is a "sticky" post on many welding forums, and a good reminder for DIYers who may not have had the formal training to watch out for it.

Another heads up for DIY welders: zinc rust proofing. If you weld on it and breathe the fumes you can get flu-like symptoms. Best bet is to stay out of the smoke and fume column!

[XSleeper]

I've got a buddy who has asthma, he worked as a welder for many years, but he had to quit welding because it eventually was really making his asthma worse. I think any job where you have to breathe smoke or dust or whatever will eventually get to you. I know I'm a lot more sensitive to sawdust than I ever used to be, 20+ yrs into carpentry.

[marksr]

I think any job where you have to breathe smoke or dust or whatever will eventually get to you.

Very true! I used to be able to work with shellac or oil base coatings all day long with no ill effects. Now if I need to apply more than just a little bit - I need my respirator.