safety....

[toddl1]

I have just purchased a manual arc welder (stick) and I have been reading up on them on the net, and i have come across some material that has warned of electric shock if you touch the workpeice and the electrode at the same time, and even making contact with the workpeice while welding is in progress.
This is confusing to me because on several occasions I have held people's workpeices while they are welding with no gloves on.
I'm sure there is a simple answer to this.....somewhere.

[Burnit]

Welcome to the site. You CAN be electrocuted, but that doesn't mean you will be. Yes, holding on to the electrode in one hand and the touching the grounded work is a bad idea.

You can touch the workpiece while welding, crawl inside it, sit on top, you will be fine.

Not wearing gloves, long sleeves and moisture on your skin increase the chance of electrocution while welding.

That being said, I sometimes use my free hand to steady a stick electrode (with a glove on)
And during the summer I am rarely wearing long sleeves. There are other stupid things I do that don't come to mind right know, and I do get zapped :laugh:

Welcome aboard!

[DSW]

Hello and welcome to the forum.

If you become the easiest path for the current to ground you can be shocked. Basic safety precautions generally prevent this. Things like standing in water while welding, welding in the rain, using AC welder in wet locations all can be done but you highly increase your chances of becoming the easiest path to ground.

Good luck.

[toddl1]

Hey, yeah thanks for that, but I'm a tad confused.
Because lots of times i have steadied people's work while they are welding with no gloves, I was however wearing rubber soled shoes. is that the reason why I wasn't :blob2:?