cleaning metal

[Silvergrizz]

I just use TSP. Cheap and goes a long ways. Pick it up at any hardware store in the paint department. Around here (Canada) it come in a 2 qt milk container (about 4lbs) for about $8.00 . You mix about 1/2 cup in 1 gal of warm water. It is a crystal powder. Great for removing oil & grease.

BTW TSP is trisodium phosphate

 

[r97]

ok thanks guys ill prob just go with soap, its easy and its cheap. thanks every one for your help and ill be shure to stay away from brkae cleaner

 

[MTU4X4RY]

If you are interested in cleaning the metal so your weld is pure, you have to remove the mill scale as well as the greasy, slag on the surface, the only way to do that effectively is to use a grinder or a abrasive wheel and clean the metal down to the shiny portion, the standard is 5/8" from the weld site. Though Less than that is probably fine.

 

[r97]

yup i usualy use the grinder i got the heavy duty angle grinder from hf for 20 bucks

 

[danjwant]

To clean metal, I personally wire brush/emry cloth the metal down until It's visibly clean or close to. Then I use white spirit with a rough cloth to remove any excess grease or oil. Then finally wipe off excess white spirit with a dry, clean rag.

Works perfect for me, then the metal's ready for a perfect weld.

 

[DirtTrackRacer_07]

Angle grinder for me too

danjwant

i commend you for all the cleaning you do before you weld and its really nessisary to do.

 

[Kenny_McCormic]

I haven't seen chlorinated brake clean in years.

 

[Bill CNC]

Use Acetone, Great for cleaning and evaporates very quickly and it's cheap to.

As far as brake cleaner, ... if your talking about the spray "brakleen, http://www.jcwhitney.com/brakleen-brake-parts-cleaner/p2021895.jcwx?skuId=574712&TID=8014524FT4&zmam=15972153&zmas=21&zmac=141&zmap=576108 ... it would have evaporated long before you could even try to hurry and weld it as fast as you can. You would never have a chance at getting the wire feed handle to wet brakleen. You would literally have to spray it and weld at the same time in order to get any reaction of any kind.

If you have ever used the stuff, ... you would no what I mean.

 

[freakboy]

Use Acetone, Great for cleaning and evaporates very quickly and it's cheap to.

As far as brake cleaner, ... if your talking about the spray "brakleen, http://www.jcwhitney.com/brakleen-brake-parts-cleaner/p2021895.jcwx?skuId=574712&TID=8014524FT4&zmam=15972153&zmas=21&zmac=141&zmap=576108 ... it would have evaporated long before you could even try to hurry and weld it as fast as you can. You would never have a chance at getting the wire feed handle to wet brakleen. You would literally have to spray it and weld at the same time in order to get any reaction of any kind.

If you have ever used the stuff, ... you would no what I mean.

http://www.brewracingframes.com/id75.htm
Personaly im not going to risk it...

 

[fowler]

brake cleaner all the way
it removes anything

 

[redsox985]

Welding over brake cleaner residue isn't the best idea.

 

[fowler]

it evaporate quick and if u wipe it off with a rag then there will be so little left the differance will be unnoticeable

 

[Sleepy122CID]

Woah not brake cleaner! I just use an angle grinder until it is nice and shiny. If you want it really clean you could use denatured alcohol or acetone would be a little stronger even.

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

 

[freakboy]

it evaporate quick and if u wipe it off with a rag then there will be so little left the differance will be unnoticeable

When your *** is grass then will you listen? Kinda seems stupid that your refusing to belive this even though we have facts here... its a BAD idea...

 

[fowler]

i dont know what brake cleaner u use but the stuff we use has no saftey lables telling u it is a bad idea and i get worse reations from CRC

 

[Sleepy122CID]

Everybody who hates people trying to offer friendly safety advice please continue to use brake cleaner... Darwinism at its finest...

 

[Sleepy122CID]

i dont know what brake cleaner u use but the stuff we use has no saftey lables telling u it is a bad idea and i get worse reations from CRC

CRC what? CRC makes brake cleaner and multiple other items...

 

[fowler]

CRC as in wd40 or a similar product

 

[freakboy]

Just cause knifes dont have a warning lable on the blade dont mean you cant kill yourself with it....

http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl...&ndsp=18&ved=1t:429,r:16,s:0&biw=1152&bih=644

http://image.absoluteastronomy.com/images/encyclopediaimages/m/mu/mustardgasburns.jpg

The gass produced by welding brake cleaner is the same as mustard gas from ww1... if you read the article you would relize this.. and mostlikey SHOULD BE SMART ENOUGH TO TAKE A WORD OF ADVICE...

 

[fowler]

i have never tryed welding arfter putting brake cleaner on i just use it to get rid of the greesey stuff on it somtimes days before actually welding
but i have seen it done