Rubbing alcohol to clean steel

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Anybody here find our that rubbing alcohol is really good to clean steel? Anybody here also use it prior to welding?How did it turn out? I found it awesome after I drill the pieces in the mill and having cutting oil the alcohol really cleans it up.
Reply:I have tried it....didnt seem to do much for me.  I prefer acetone
Reply:Originally Posted by Jr_vw2I have tried it....didnt seem to do much for me.  I prefer acetone
Reply:Originally Posted by pyroracing85Acetone before welding or to clean the oil off?
Reply:Rubbing alcohol is 30% water, and even 100% isopropanol isn't a great solvent for motor oils and the like. If you want to test something like that, put a small amount in a clear bottle/test tube, add a few drops of oil and mix like crazy. A good solvent will completely dissolve the oil or whatever you're testing for. I think with rubbing alcohol you will still see seperate drops of oil, or perhaps a temporary 'emulsion'-like mixture which will later seperate into larger drops. R.A. should work fine for 'soluble' cutting oils which are supposed to be cut with water which might be what you used with your mill.
Reply:I keep a gallon of the denatured ethyl alcohol (poisoned whiskey) around for use on plastics or when you don't want to harm paints and such. It sort of works if you use enough and rub enough. Other than that it is about 3rd choice. Pretty poor on thick oils and useless with grease."The things that will destroy America are prosperity at any price, peace at any price, safety first instead of duty first, the love of soft living and the get rich quick theory of life." -Theodore Roosevelt
Reply:Works about as well as ethanol, In my opinion. Isopropanol is less flammable and tends to evaporate more slowly. that might be an advantage. Isopropanol tends to have a higher water content and that can effect it's solvent power.  Ethanol is cheaper as far as I know. It's also the least toxic of the common solvents.
Reply:I use either "Gun scrubber" in a can, or "CRC electronic parts cleaner."  I DO NOT use any break or carb cleaner.  After I use the Gun Scrubber or CRC, I wipe down the metal with denatured alcohol.  My metal is left clean, dry and perfect for welding!  Read the sticky on using "break cleaner" prior to welding.  It WILL KILL YOU!Lincoln Power Mig 216Lincoln AC/DC-225/125Miller  625 X-Treme PlasmaMiller 211 Forney 95FI-A 301HF 91110Victor Journeyman O/PMilwaukee DaytonMakita  Baileigh NRA Life Member
Reply:I only use brake parts cleaner.Welding/Fab Pics: www.UtahWeld.com
Reply:brake cleaner isnt the issue, its only the chlorinated versions that are dangerous. The non-chlorinated version is mostly acetone and propellent. Better make sure the CRC is non-chlorinated because it is basically the same thing as brake cleaner just formulated to not dissolve anything in an electronic circuit (lacquer, and insulation mostly)Alcohol is great for cleaning a light film off of sensitive materials like plastic, or for removing the residue left from other cleaners, but as a primary solvent its pretty useless. Acetone works much better. For heavy grease I will go for purple power, simple green or dawn dish soap and do a final cleaning with acetone if needed.
Reply:MIG and TIG really need clean metal.SMAW and FCAW are less sensitive.  The heat, and properties of the flux, act to clean out impurities.  Small amounts of oil, paint, and rust, are allowable.  You can clean if you want, but it's less crucial.  I generally use nothing more than a cup brush to remove loose rust, and maybe a rag to remove excess oil.  That said, I don't have to submit to x ray analysis so I just don't care.Most failures occur due to improper joint design, poor overall weldment design, and related fatigue failures or moment failures.  Locked in stress, and damage to the metal in the HAZ are more likely to cause failure than a little bit of crud trapped in the weld.  Again.......most flux contains chemicals to help "float" the crud to the surface of the puddle.I feel it's more imporant to make a good overall design capable of handling the stress placed upon it, and making a good weld with GOOD heat, than fixating on sterile conditions."Any day above ground is a good day"http://www.farmersamm.com/
Reply:My favorite DEGREASER, for old caked grease is fuel oil (diesel fuel). For cleaning metal prior to welding I use acetone in a compressed air pressurized sprayer, that I posted a while back."Where's Stick man????????" - 7A749"SHHHHHH!! I sent him over to snag that MIC-4 while tbone wasn't looking!" - duaneb55"I have bought a few of Tbone's things unlike Stick-Man who helps himself" - TozziWelding"Stick-man"
Reply:Originally Posted by Stick-manMy favorite DEGREASER, for old caked grease is fuel oil (diesel fuel). For cleaning metal prior to welding I use acetone in a compressed air pressurized sprayer, that I posted a while back.
Reply:Acetone works great and doesn't cause any health problems that I'm aware of.Jack OlsenMy garage website
Reply:Originally Posted by Jack OlsenAcetone works great and doesn't cause any health problems that I'm aware of.