What solvents are people using in their garage?

[Screwdriver]

I didn't realise that. I do still have a couple of tins about 30 years old.

I've still got an old army fire extinguisher full of Carbon Tet if I ever feel the need

good for cleaning and thinning the original hamerite if anyone still has the original stuff

Possibly the most dangerous chemical you can have anywhere near a welding station.

It's the stuff that generates phosgene gas if exposed to heat, the tiniest whiff of that will kill you stone dead.

Even if you don't kill yourself making it into phosgene, just breathing it in is bad enough and might even kill you anyway...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbon_tetrachloride

 

[Cobbler]

I bought 5 litres of Surfex water based cleaner, bl00dy wife keeps pinching it for cleaning around the house not really a solvent, but a good cleaner & just wash it off with water.

 

[slim_boy_fat]

I bought 5 litres of Surfex water based cleaner, bl00dy wife keeps pinching it for cleaning around the house not really a solvent, but a good cleaner & just wash it off with water.

AutoSmart G101 is a great cleaner/degreaser - can be used at many dilutions and as above, just rinse/wipe over with water afterwards.

 

[brightspark]

Possibly the most dangerous chemical you can have anywhere near a welding station.

It's the stuff that generates phosgene gas if exposed to heat, the tiniest whiff of that will kill you stone dead.

Even if you don't kill yourself making it into phosgene, just breathing it in is bad enough and might even kill you anyway...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbon_tetrachloride

years ago I once sprayed a motorcycle fame hung up in me dads garage . it was cold and I sprayed it over a gas ring that was sat on floor the fumes from the carbon tet made me feel moby dick and had to go out for fresh air they used to use it in fire extinguishers

 

[Screwdriver]

years ago I once sprayed a motorcycle fame hung up in me dads garage . it was cold and I sprayed it over a gas ring that was sat on floor the fumes from the carbon tet made me feel moby dick and had to go out for fresh air they used to use it in fire extinguishers

I assumed the issue was with high temperature, like welding plasma. Apparently, carbon tet can decompose in flame. You were very (very) lucky. Phosgene gas destroys lung tissue on contact...

Have to say, I am surprised people are saying it's used in fire extinguishers! How does that work?

 

[Maker]

How does that work?

Very well I'd imagine, it'll take in heat as it evaporates cooling the fire and once it's evaporated it displaces the oxygen and smothers it. Pretty clever if you overlook all the phosgene.

 

[brightspark]

was quite common till they found out what was happening when they put on fires I found that out in my garage https://www.google.co.uk/search?site=webhp&q=carbon+tetrachloride+in+fire+extinguishers&oq=carbon+tetrachloride+in+fire+extinguishers&gs_l=psy-ab.12...0.0.0.115642.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0..0.0....0...1..64.psy-ab..0.0.0.7HMhm

 

[Turbo]

I have quite a range of solvents at my disposal, the benefits of a big garage.
White spirit for thinning household paint.
Diesel & heating oil for cleaning & fueling the space heater.
Petrol & 2 stroke mix for a stronger cleaning solvent.
Cellulose thinners for cleaning brushes & spray guns, thinning car paint, degreasing.
Methylated spirit, good for cleaning plastics as it doesn't usually melt them. Also great for cleaning glass & adding to your car screenwash bottle to prevent freezing!
Brake cleaner, apart from the usual uses I find it's good for degreasing threads prior to loctiting them.
Videojet cleaner - it's proper use is for cleaning ink from printer heads but it's my goto stuff for cleaning when everything else has failed. The fumes from it are very strong, I think it's mainly butanone with similar properties to acetone. It will dissolve superglue as well as most plastics & can be used as model cement!

I have only recently moved all my solvents to a cupboard, well away from any welding or grinding. Before this they were on various shelves & boxes, it's a miracle I never had a fire!