TIG question... Can I prep/clean metal with unleaded gas?

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I have a couple of gallons of gasoline sitting in a container at the shop... Can I use it to scrub the crap off of my steel and aluminum scraps... or is acetone the only way to go?obviously the gasoline needs to be moved to the far end of the shop before 'sparking up' ESAB Heliarc 252
Reply:Sounds like a bad idea. Whether or not the residue will flash on the metal or not I don't know. The fumes will linger and that arc will touch it off. Why bother, use up the canned gas in an engine unless its turned to lacquer.Remember the sticky about using brake cleaner as a degreaser and the extremely toxic chemicals that are generated from the heat of welding.I'm all for trying alternative methods of anything, but really give it some thought beforehand, and I guess asking the question here is in that line since if it's on the internet it has to be true.Lincoln AC/DC 225/125 and WP17. 75A AC is for pipe thawing!HH 140 - new addtion 9/2012.I didn't agree, but hoped for Hope and Change.I got change for myself and my family: for the worse.This is the reality of: Barackalypse Now. Again.
Reply:Originally Posted by jtcnjSounds like a bad idea. Whether or not the residue will flash on the metal or not I don't know. The fumes will linger and that arc will touch it off. Why bother, use up the canned gas in an engine unless its turned to lacquer.Remember the sticky about using brake cleaner as a degreaser and the extremely toxic chemicals that are generated from the heat of welding.I'm all for trying alternative methods of anything, but really give it some thought beforehand, and I guess asking the question here is in that line since if it's on the internet it has to be true.
Reply:No Man, I wouldnt do it.. just sayin tho. I am with 7A749 I use lacquer thinner or acetone. Safe to use and gets things good and clean.
Reply:Go with acetone, gasoline will leave an unwanted residue.
Reply:Thanks, Acetone it is.ESAB Heliarc 252
Reply:Gasoline is a waaaaaaaaaaaaay better degreaser than acetone. Gas will work well for really nasty metal.Welding/Fab Pics: www.UtahWeld.com
Reply:brake clean is the best degreaser, just make sure its non chlorinated brake clean. if theres no degeasing that needs to be done and just a surface wipe then i use denatured alcohol.mike
Reply:gas will cut the heavy crud and doesnt evaporate quite as fast as acetone (gas can actually contain a suprising amount of acetone) but it does leave a residue. If you want to use gas, at least follow it up with an acetone wipe before you get welding. In my mind, if it still smells like gas, then there is always the chance for a flare up.
Reply:The only problem I have with cleaning stuff with Gas is most gas containers are large,holding at least a gallon..... With heat and sparks associated with welding areas the chance of fire and or explosion are always possible......All my cleaning fluids are in small containers (Pint cans, alcohol in plastic bottles)  When you lite off a gallon of gasoline you get hurt in most cases........  Miller Dynasty 350Twenty Six HammersThree Crow BarsBig Rock
Reply:Originally Posted by B_CThe only problem I have with cleaning stuff with Gas is most gas containers are large,holding at least a gallon..... With heat and sparks associated with welding areas the chance of fire and or explosion are always possible......All my cleaning fluids are in small containers (Pint cans, alcohol in plastic bottles)  When you lite off a gallon of gasoline you get hurt in most cases........
Reply:I think I have found a way to send my safety officer over the edge and give him a coronary.  "Oh that? Just a bit of gasoline I use to clean metal before welding" If you cant fix it with a hammer, it must be an electrical problem."Boy, everyone starts with a full bag of luck and an empty bag of experience. The trick is to fill the bag of experience before the bag of luck is empty."-Grandad circa 1990ish
Reply:A couple points of info that are probably obvious, but maybe not to everyone...Acetone is quite flammable, not unlike gasoline. In both cases, the real dangers are fumes in air: a near-empty gas container can explode, a full one can't. In both cases, the upper and lower explosive limits are similar, and although gasoline ignites at a lower temperature, it's easy enough to reach the 470C at which Acetone ignites in a welding environment. Gasoline is more volatile, but at warmer temperatures (room temperature) Acetone is also well above it's flashpoint. They have similar Short Term Exposure Limits.As for gasoline residue, it's probably highly variable, since gasoline mixtures (even at a given octane) vary widely by location and time of year.
Reply:Originally Posted by Electricdude7Go with acetone, gasoline will leave an unwanted residue.
Reply:Acetone, ethanol and many other volatile solvents are just as explosive and hence dangerous as gasoline, usually just harder to smell (and thus harder to realize the danger of).The all need to be treated with the same respect.   Theoretically, everything in gasoline is volatile so there should be no trace left on metal after cleaning with it, but all substances have some ability to "adsorb" other compounds, so a carefully done test is the best way to determine if it will be a problem for you and your methods.
Reply:Originally Posted by Oldiron2Theoretically, everything in gasoline is volatile so there should be no trace left on metal after cleaning with it.
Reply:If you apply it with a rag stuffed into a bottle, you can clean and preheat at the same time. Attached Images"USMCPOP" First-born son: KIA  Iraq 1/26/05Syncrowave 250 w/ Coolmate 3Dialarc 250, Idealarc 250SP-175 +Firepower TIG 160S (gave the TA 161 STL to the son)Lincwelder AC180C (1952)Victor & Smith O/A torchesMiller spot welder
Reply:I've read far too many threads about people dying from using brake cleaner and other crap. There for I will only use acetone and nothing else. Just not worth the risk if you don't know.Torchmate 2x2 CNC with Flashcut CNC controlsHypertherm Powermax45 Esab ET220i Razorweld 195 MigRazorweld 200ac/dc TigTormach 770, Tormach xstechRazorweld, Vipercut/Vipermig, SSC Foot Pedal Dealer
Reply:+1 to anything said to the problem with:heat + brake cleaner + argon = phosgene gasI don't TIG much (mostly stick/mig at present)... As for using gas as a degreaser, I have used gas for years. It is readily available and highly effective, and can be used with relative safety if you are careful. The key is not to use too much at a time. A teaspoon of gas on a rag is much easier to deal with than a gallon pail tipped over. Gas does burn fast, but unless contained it does not explode like in the movies. The vapors are flammable. Definitely an outside activity.Of course, this is true for this entire discipline. Fire suppression. Make sure that whatever you are doing you have a good plan in place for fire suppression. This is no different. Experiment, test and verify. When you say, "Hey, hold my beer and watch this," make sure that they are also holding a fire extinguisher.Last edited by browncoat; 11-23-2012 at 08:52 AM.
Reply:What the heck are you guys welding that needs to be cleaned with solvents, are you all nuke welders? I've never seen solvents used on a job in 30 years.
Reply:Originally Posted by TimmyTIGWhat the heck are you guys welding that needs to be cleaned with solvents, are you all nuke welders? I've never seen solvents used on a job in 30 years.
Reply:Originally Posted by TimmyTIGWhat the heck are you guys welding that needs to be cleaned with solvents, are you all nuke welders? I've never seen solvents used on a job in 30 years.
Reply:Originally Posted by zapsterIs this some sort of joke?...zap!
Reply:I've welded some aluminum pipe over the years in chemical plants. We cleaned it with flappers or tiger discs, no acetone or anything else like that. It came out just fine.Do you guys flap your plate or just use solvents or both?If you asked for solvents on an industrial job they would most likely just laugh at you.
Reply:Originally Posted by TimmyTIGI've welded some aluminum pipe over the years in chemical plants. We cleaned it with flappers or tiger discs, no acetone or anything else like that. It came out just fine.Do you guys flap your plate or just use solvents or both?If you asked for solvents on an industrial job they would most likely just laugh at you.so you're saying the stainless brush and acetone worked better than the flapper? Hand brush or wire wheel?Don't get me wrong, I'm not knocking it, it just seems like a lot of trouble and expense for somebody that's just practicing when a tiger disc would probably do the job.
Reply:Originally Posted by TimmyTIGso you're saying the stainless brush and acetone worked better than the flapper? Hand brush or wire wheel?Don't get me wrong, I'm not knocking it, it just seems like a lot of trouble and expense for somebody that's just practicing when a tiger disc would probably do the job.
Reply:Originally Posted by HornsOriginally Posted by zapster  Is this some sort of joke?...zap!
Reply:Originally Posted by BlauSchuhI simply wanted to figure out why crud was getting into the bead.... oxidation from the material, tungsten issue, filler rod issue, or gas flow problem, etc. Just trying to eliminate potential issues one by one.
Reply:Not so much now anymore (because people learned) but when E85 first came out I had cans and cans full of the stuff from customer cars. Some people just go for the cheapest gas they see no matter what the pump says. I have been using E85 to clean EVERYTHING from the shop floor to really grimy pieces to be welded. Now I just use the corn crap to get the heavy gunk off the parts, after the heavy cleaning I will use acetone to clean up any residue before welding.I use the E85 for cleaning all kinds of parts before assembly, cleaning paint brushes, starting the fire in the stove, you name it. Gas fumes have to be THICK to be ignited. So thick in fact I don't think you would be able to breath. Just keep a couple doors open to be sure.