[GreenKeys] Cleaning stuff, etc..

[Don Robert House]

Hi Peter,

The solvent you are writing about is banned in California.  Those that  
used these kinds of solvents aboard ship are suffering from several  
serious health problems.  I was off work from Illinois Bell for three  
days in 1967 with chemical pneumonia from the damn stuff.  The Bell  
System used two different kinds of this family of cleaning solvents:  
Triclorethelene and Triclorethane.  The stuff you used is not quite as  
bad but must be used in a very well ventilated area, preferably  
wearing a respirator mask with charcoal filters.  Mineral spirits take  
longer but are not as hazardous to your health.

Don


On 26 Nov 2007, at 4:09 PM, Peter Gottlieb wrote:

I used something like this when helping do the annual on a friend's  
plane for several years.  It sounds like the same unit.  Maybe I am  
foolish but I didn't use gloves, even occasionally splashed the stuff  
in my face (I wear glasses though) and never suffered any ill  
effects.  YMMV.  I would worry as much about getting the grease in  
your eyes as the solvent.  What used to be really dangerous to the  
eyes was the Eposolve we used to use to un-pot potted assemblies.

I recently cleaned a VERY encrusted 2B printer.  All the oils and  
grease had dried to a thick film of what looked like brownish yellow  
varnish.  I used a big stainless deep pan (11x17 darkroom type), a  
spray can of "electronics cleaner" which was tetrachloroethylene (from  
an auto parts store) and a smallish paint brush.  Do this outside!!   
The stuff smells like a dry cleaner, because that is what they use  
(hmmm, can we get our machines dry cleaned?).  It works unbelievably  
well.  In the sunlight, what was in the tray evaporated relatively  
quickly leaving a large amount of hard thick greasy junk.

The 2B wouldn't even turn when I got it.  After cleaning and lubing it  
is now running and printing copy.

Peter


Don Robert House wrote:
> The company that provides the cleaning tank and the "Gunk" is called  
> Safety Clean.  They recirculate the stuff and collect the hazardous  
> waste every so often.  It would be nice to ask the mechanic to clean  
> your parts when they have just put new stuff in the machine.  It is  
> powerful stuff and should be used only by trained persons.  If you  
> splash the stuff in your eyes you could be blinded.  It also makes  
> significant burns on your skin.
>
> Don
> K9TTY
>
>
> On 26 Nov 2007, at 9:12 AM, Larry Tighe wrote:
>
> Greg,
>
> A mechanic friend has a tub that has a pump that has some kind of  
> "Gunk" liquid running in it.  He uses this to clean parts from  
> engines.  It dries with no noticeable residue.
>
> With extreme originality, he calls it his "Cleaning Tank".  You  
> might have one near-by at your frienly mechanic's facility.  The  
> nozzle is at moderate pressure and, with a brush, parts come out  
> sparkly new looking.
>
> Lar
> K2JA
> www.antiquetelephone.com
>
>
> Sent: Monday, November 26, 2007 9:16 AM
> Subject: [GreenKeys] Cleaning stuff, etc..
>
>
>> Would someone please enlighten this forgetful person what you use  
>> to clean ye olde ancient M14ROTR, as well as other equipment, since  
>> I no longer have access to a dipping/cleaning tank. >
>
> 73 de Greg "GW" Moore WA3IVX/NNN0BVN
>
>
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