The metalworking content is that I bought two old cans of brake fluid
for the metal cans. One will be used for Ed's Red - the acetone
evaporates through plastic, so for longer term storage you need a
metal can. I may modify the cap of the other one to become a
dispenser.

Before I discard the old brake fluid, is it useful for anything around
the shop? BTW, what's in brake fluid?


RWL


******* Recreate gaps in email address to reply *******

RWL writes:

BTW, what's in brake fluid?

Various glycols and glycol ethers. You want incompressibility for
hydraulic performance, low vapor pressure to avoid evaporation losses, high
boiling point to handle hot brake systems, miscibility with water to
disperse water contamination instead of separating it where it could freeze
or boil, non-corrosive to metal, inert to elastomers, low flammability.

It makes a great paint remover. Just spill some on the car.
Does work as a decent solvent.
Respectfully,
Ron Moore

"RWL" GeoLane_NOSPAM_ @evenlink.com wrote in message
...
The metalworking content is that I bought two old cans of brake fluid
for the metal cans. One will be used for Ed's Red - the acetone
evaporates through plastic, so for longer term storage you need a
metal can. I may modify the cap of the other one to become a
dispenser.

Before I discard the old brake fluid, is it useful for anything around
the shop? BTW, what's in brake fluid?


RWL


******* Recreate gaps in email address to reply *******

On Sun, 09 Oct 2005 23:11:02 -0400, RWL GeoLane_NOSPAM_
@evenlink.com wrote:

The metalworking content is that I bought two old cans of brake fluid
for the metal cans. One will be used for Ed's Red - the acetone
evaporates through plastic, so for longer term storage you need a
metal can. I may modify the cap of the other one to become a
dispenser.

Before I discard the old brake fluid, is it useful for anything around
the shop? BTW, what's in brake fluid?


RWL


******* Recreate gaps in email address to reply *******


You can always mix it with swimming pool powdered clorine..in the yard
of someone you dont like...really intensely dont like....

I believe that brake fluid is polyethylene glycol

Gunner

Confronting Liberals with the facts of reality is very much akin to
clubbing baby seals. It gets boring after a while, but because Liberals are
so stupid it is easy work." Steven M. Barry

what'll happen?

"Gunner" wrote in message
...
On Sun, 09 Oct 2005 23:11:02 -0400, RWL GeoLane_NOSPAM_
@evenlink.com wrote:

The metalworking content is that I bought two old cans of brake fluid
for the metal cans. One will be used for Ed's Red - the acetone
evaporates through plastic, so for longer term storage you need a
metal can. I may modify the cap of the other one to become a
dispenser.

Before I discard the old brake fluid, is it useful for anything around
the shop? BTW, what's in brake fluid?


RWL


******* Recreate gaps in email address to reply *******


You can always mix it with swimming pool powdered clorine..in the yard
of someone you dont like...really intensely dont like....

I believe that brake fluid is polyethylene glycol

Gunner

Confronting Liberals with the facts of reality is very much akin to
clubbing baby seals. It gets boring after a while, but because Liberals
are
so stupid it is easy work." Steven M. Barry

On Mon, 10 Oct 2005 11:49:39 -0400, "Eide"
wrote:

what'll happen?

It's a delayed incindiary. Starts fires. Fire departments know all
about this arsonist's technique.

"RWL" GeoLane_NOSPAM_ @evenlink.com wrote in message
...
snip----

Before I discard the old brake fluid, is it useful for anything around
the shop? BTW, what's in brake fluid?


RWL

From my young years (early 50's), I was taught that it was made from alcohol
and castor oil. You can smell the alcohol----not sure about the castor
oil, but it makes sense.

Harold

From my young years (early 50's), I was taught that it was made from
alcohol
and castor oil. You can smell the alcohol----not sure about the castor
oil, but it makes sense.

Not any more (if ever). It's stuff like this:

http://www.chemicalland21.com/arokor...emical/DEG.htm

"Newshound" wrote in message
...
From my young years (early 50's), I was taught that it was made from
alcohol
and castor oil. You can smell the alcohol----not sure about the castor
oil, but it makes sense.

Not any more (if ever). It's stuff like this:

http://www.chemicalland21.com/arokor...emical/DEG.htm



Thanks for the link! Nice to hear it from the horse's mouth.:-)

Harold

Actually, if you were to smell the Girling brake fluid, you would
distinctly smell the castor oil.

Years ago, when I serviced a large number of older European and British
cars, we had to keep Girling fluid in stock for the British iron.

You cannot mix the two due to differing compositions of the brake system
rubber parts between the European and British cars.

Put the wrong fluid in either system, and you were headed for trouble.

"*" wrote in message
news:01c5ce5f$135ffd40$f1a7c3d8@race...
Actually, if you were to smell the Girling brake fluid, you would
distinctly smell the castor oil.

Years ago, when I serviced a large number of older European and British
cars, we had to keep Girling fluid in stock for the British iron.

You cannot mix the two due to differing compositions of the brake system
rubber parts between the European and British cars.

Put the wrong fluid in either system, and you were headed for trouble.



Thanks for confirming what I had remembered. Brake fluid, indeed, used to
be made of alcohol and castor oil.

OK----I admit it-------I'm old. g

Harold

Let the record show that "Harold and Susan Vordos" wrote
back on Mon, 10 Oct 2005 01:05:46 -0700 in rec.crafts.metalworking :

"RWL" GeoLane_NOSPAM_ @evenlink.com wrote in message
.. .
snip----

Before I discard the old brake fluid, is it useful for anything around
the shop? BTW, what's in brake fluid?


RWL

From my young years (early 50's), I was taught that it was made from alcohol
and castor oil. You can smell the alcohol----not sure about the castor
oil, but it makes sense.

Back in those days ...

"Why, when I was a boy, we had brake fluid made from real brakes!"
--
pyotr filipivich
Old farts these days - no like when I was a boy. We used to
have us Real Geezers in those days. Now, they'll let anybody
with a little gray hair be an old fart.

Dear Pyotr,
In the days before I built 5" gauge live steam ,I played with
HO railways. If I remember correctly Brake fluid was used to strip the
paint off commercial plastic locomotive body shells prior to re-painting
in a different livery. the plastic was left undamaged
Regards Ian
In article 1330l1dta2h4n3cfptj5
, pyotr filipivich writes
Let the record show that "Harold and Susan Vordos" wrote
back on Mon, 10 Oct 2005 01:05:46 -0700 in rec.crafts.metalworking :

"RWL" GeoLane_NOSPAM_ @evenlink.com wrote in message
. ..
snip----

Before I discard the old brake fluid, is it useful for anything around
the shop? BTW, what's in brake fluid?


RWL

From my young years (early 50's), I was taught that it was made from alcohol
and castor oil. You can smell the alcohol----not sure about the castor
oil, but it makes sense.

Back in those days ...

"Why, when I was a boy, we had brake fluid made from real brakes!"

--
Ian R.Weeks

On Sun, 16 Oct 2005 09:43:40 +0100, "Ian R.Weeks"
wrote:

Dear Pyotr,
In the days before I built 5" gauge live steam ,I played with
HO railways. If I remember correctly Brake fluid was used to strip the
paint off commercial plastic locomotive body shells prior to re-painting
in a different livery. the plastic was left undamaged
Regards Ian
I have a small jar of brake fluid in which I soak rattle can nozzles
for a couple days, then blow them clean with compressed air.
Gerry :-)}
London, Canada

On Sun, 16 Oct 2005 17:09:01 -0400, with neither quill nor qualm,
Gerald Miller quickly quoth:

On Sun, 16 Oct 2005 09:43:40 +0100, "Ian R.Weeks"
wrote:

Dear Pyotr,
In the days before I built 5" gauge live steam ,I played with
HO railways. If I remember correctly Brake fluid was used to strip the
paint off commercial plastic locomotive body shells prior to re-painting
in a different livery. the plastic was left undamaged
Regards Ian
I have a small jar of brake fluid in which I soak rattle can nozzles
for a couple days, then blow them clean with compressed air.

Good tip, Gerry, if you'll pardon my double entendre.


-------------------------------------------------
- Boldly going - * Wondrous Website Design
- nowhere. - * http://www.diversify.com
-------------------------------------------------

Makes a good weed killer...

On Sun, 09 Oct 2005 23:11:02 -0400, RWL GeoLane_NOSPAM_
@evenlink.com wrote:

The metalworking content is that I bought two old cans of brake fluid
for the metal cans. One will be used for Ed's Red - the acetone
evaporates through plastic, so for longer term storage you need a
metal can. I may modify the cap of the other one to become a
dispenser.

Before I discard the old brake fluid, is it useful for anything around
the shop? BTW, what's in brake fluid?


RWL


******* Recreate gaps in email address to reply *******

X-No-Archive


Greetings,


PMBI, but I've been wondering how to get rid of some brake fluid (DOT
4), and this seemed like a great opportunity to ask.

I change the brake fluid in by bike (Honda, not Schwinn :-) every
year, and the stuff is starting to accumulate (a bit more than one
quart so far). Is it safe to flush, or does it require some sort of
special disposal? I asked at my local gas station, and they had no
idea what to do with used brake fluid!

Thanks in advance for the assistance!


Cordially,
Richard Kanarek


P.S. Having been stored out doors, in sealed, but probably not
hermitically sealed, bottles, I doubt it's still good for anything
now. Still, if there is someone in NYC who's keen on having used brake
fluid, feel free to reply! My e-mail address is obfuscated, but I
think you can figure it out!

I asked at my local gas station, and they had no
idea what to do with used brake fluid!

Dump it in with your "used" when you do an oil change, then drop it off at
the recyclers.

Thanks for the reply.

AFAIK, contaminated motor oil is not only non-recyclable, but it makes
the oil it's mixed with non-recyclable, too. By non-recyclable, I
don't mean to suggest that it might be refused at the filling station
(although there was one guy at a Jiffy Lube who would sniff used oil
before accepting it, may he rest in peace g), but that it will just
muck-(no pun)-up things up later.

Of course, I'm not saying that brake fluid tainted used motor oil is
"contaminated" -- perhaps brake fluid is a swell and recyclable
additive? -- but I'd prefer not to take the chance.

Cordially,
Richard Kanarek


On Thu, 13 Oct 2005 02:07:48 GMT, "Rudy"
wrote:

I asked at my local gas station, and they had no
idea what to do with used brake fluid!

Dump it in with your "used" when you do an oil change, then drop it off at
the recyclers.

"Richard Kanarek" wrote in message
...
Thanks for the reply.

AFAIK, contaminated motor oil is not only non-recyclable, but it makes
the oil it's mixed with non-recyclable, too. By non-recyclable, I
don't mean to suggest that it might be refused at the filling station
(although there was one guy at a Jiffy Lube who would sniff used oil
before accepting it, may he rest in peace g), but that it will just
muck-(no pun)-up things up later.

Of course, I'm not saying that brake fluid tainted used motor oil is
"contaminated" -- perhaps brake fluid is a swell and recyclable
additive? -- but I'd prefer not to take the chance.

Cordially,
Richard Kanarek

I agree. Motor oil, in order to be properly recycled, should not be
contaminated with ANYTHING------especially gasoline or solvents. I keep
thinking of the hazards of using used oil for a furnace that has been so
contaminated. Could prove interesting!

Harold

"Harold and Susan Vordos" wrote in message
...

"Richard Kanarek" wrote in message
...
Thanks for the reply.

AFAIK, contaminated motor oil is not only non-recyclable, but it makes
the oil it's mixed with non-recyclable, too. By non-recyclable, I
don't mean to suggest that it might be refused at the filling station
(although there was one guy at a Jiffy Lube who would sniff used oil
before accepting it, may he rest in peace g), but that it will just
muck-(no pun)-up things up later.

Of course, I'm not saying that brake fluid tainted used motor oil is
"contaminated" -- perhaps brake fluid is a swell and recyclable
additive? -- but I'd prefer not to take the chance.

Cordially,
Richard Kanarek

I agree. Motor oil, in order to be properly recycled, should not be
contaminated with ANYTHING------especially gasoline or solvents. I keep
thinking of the hazards of using used oil for a furnace that has been so
contaminated. Could prove interesting!

Harold

Well you don't just burn used motor oil in a furnace without
treating/filtering it anyway. At least you don't if you know what's good for
you. Used motor oil is contaminated with all sorts of things, cadmium for
example (from bearings) which is bad for you when you get it into your
system. (This is why garages/service stations stopped burning motor oil for
supplemental heating. There used to be quite a market for stoves to burn
used motor oil.)

You burn the untreated oil, the contaminating products get into the air, you
breath the air, or touch a contaminated surface, eat something that has been
grown in contaminated soil in your garden, and wonder why you die or your
children are born with two heads etc..

well u can always drink it.