cleaning metal

[r97]

hey guys i know this is probably a newbie question but what do you use to clean metal and how do use it. i was moving the metal i got for my cart a couple days a go when i looked at my hands and saw that they were covered with what i think is slag? im just looking for a simple and inexpensive method for cleaning metal because when you weld a dirty piece of metal the weld pulls in the dirt thus weekening the weld, correct? well pleas reply, thanks

 

[fowler]

rag and petrol

 

[r97]

wouldn't you have a problem with the gas igniting

 

[fowler]

it evaporates quick
i dont have any experiance with cold climates but at 16'c it is gone in 5 min

 

[redsox985]

Gas is fine. In 'nam it was a very common cleaning solution for the, then revolutionary, M16 rifle. It dries in minutes and cleans off anything. Also, a cupped wire wheel on a grinder works. At my school we had a sand blasting cabinet so that gave an awesome clean but rusted quickly.

 

[r97]

ok thanks i think i will use the wire brush i because i hate cleaning up spilled gas

 

[KieranM]

buy wd 40 its worth it spray it on the steel and get some sandpaper or a sanding pad for a grinder, arc/ stick welding is not effected by dirt as much as mig/ tig would be

 

[T-man]

r97 , I normaly use just water and dish soap, it takes longer to dry but my steel comes out squeeeeeky clean and I dont have to worry about getting high from the fumes

 

[KieranM]

water? but surely that just adds to the whole rust forming??

 

[r97]

t man i just saw one of your vids yousing dish soap to clean the metal, and well ... good idea that sounds like what im looking for, but like kieran said wouldnt that also cause the inside of your tubing to rust??

 

[fowler]

the best thing to use is brake cleaner fluid
but it is a bit more expensive

 

[r97]

if its the only thing that works yes, but im not realy interested in the expensive part o things .lol

 

[freakboy]

the best thing to use is brake cleaner fluid
but it is a bit more expensive

Depending on the type if its chlorinated you will get ****ed up off that **** and die a painfull death...

 

[Kaptain Krunch]

the best thing to use is brake cleaner fluid
but it is a bit more expensive

depends on the kind, It can kill you... So i'd stick to a wire wheel and some gas.

 

[r97]

ok no brake cleaner 4 me, odly enough the hole expensive inguries death pain thing doesnt sound like the easy thing i was looking 4 lol

by the way has any one els tried the hot water and dish soap idea suggested by t-man?

 

[T-man]

r97 , ya it would contribute to rusting if you didnt use it right away (the steel). but I always use the steel that I cleaned within 20-30 min. after cleaning it, I also put it in the sun to help it dry. so after being in the sun and the heat that transfers through from me welding on it there isn't any moisture that I have ever noticed. in the winter time I use laquor thinner but that drys the he!! out of my hands.

 

[brendonv]

Yerp brake cleaner and people dont mix. Put that on, weld it later and and the gases given off can paralyze and kill you. Nasty ****e. I dont clean my metal, just paint it and u dont have to worry. If u want to get off surface rust then emery paper is ur friend. If ur getting off dirt then just soapy water as u do with a car. Dont use petrol as it will eat off paintwork.

If ur talking about cleaning metal before welding then a flapper disc on a grinder or emery paper will do the job.

 

[fowler]

if brake cleaner fluid kills u then im well dead cause i spent all last friday useing it to clean oil from the workshop floor

 

[Benjo]

it can kill you if you heat it up.

 

[fowler]

ar good im not dead then