My Bren MKI

[tankhunter]

As a slight aside from what Peter has written on the Subject of Phosgene.

Back in the day, before Deact's were available to us. I was asked to manufacture a replica Vickers Watercooled MG. To make the more complicated earlier variant with the fluted waterjacket. I obtained an old corrugated steel dustbin. Which had strengthening flutes all the way around the main body. I'm SURE you can picture these in your minds eye?

Well, I duly cut out a section to enable Me to make the jacket of the correct diameter.
The problem cam when I began to seam weld it into cylindrical form!.....
The fumes given off from the plating on the outside I believe were Toxic in the extreme!
Even though I was welding outside, the first intake of 'normal' breathing. Made Me stop IMEDIATELY!.....JESUS! it was just like someone had thrust a Knitting needle into my lungs! I didn't try THAT again! & got a specialist welder who used breathing to complete the seam weld. And also weld in a cap at either end.

So, be aware, be VERY Aware of heat & differing metals. It never entered my head on this topic. As I assumed (NEVER Assume ANYTHING!) that I would manage as I was working out in the open!....................

Information

Warning: This is a relatively older thread This discussion is older than 360 days. Some information contained in it may no longer be current.

[stencollector]

As a slight aside from what Peter has written on the Subject of Phosgene.........an old corrugated steel dustbin........The fumes given off from the plating on the outside I believe were Toxic in the extreme!

Galvanised metal is very dangerous to weld.......ranks right up there with the Carbon Tet.

Speaking of Carbon Tet, I have a bit of a collection of those old extinguishers. The DND marked ones are the basis of my collection, and they can be found with DND army, DND, and a host of other variations. I even have British made ones that are DND embossed. Some still have the carbon tet in them, but I have no intent of ever using them on a fire. I'll normally have a normal dry chem extinguisher buried away in my old milsurp vehicles...the brass ones are just for display. They can be filled with water to work, but that is not a good idea in this climate as they will freeze and split in the winter.

[Korn]

The chlorinated brake cleaner is what is should be avoided. The phosgene gas forms when welding a part cleaned with the brake cleaner, the argon used for shielding gas combines with the heated brake cleaner. Like it was stated above, even a small amount of exposure can be very bad. We use acetone to clean parts to be welded at work.

[tankhunter]

[QUOTE=stencollector;286559]Galvanised metal is very dangerous to weld.......ranks right up there with the Carbon Tet.

Yep, I found out the HARD Way!.....................