stick work clamp

[daugen]

Could someone explain please a few do's and don't's for using the ground/work clamp?
Should the work be insulated from the earth below? How about when using a metal work table?

I bought a strong magnet gizmo that locks onto plate steel, which says it works as a place to attach the
work clamp. I will be doing mostly repairs and fab using flat steel, nothing round at this point.

If one was adventurous enough to touch the work with a bare hand/finger while welding, would you get shocked?
Trying to understand where the hazards are here, and minimize them.
I haven't even turned on my new welder, it's sitting patiently waiting for me, but thought this was a topic
I should get well educated on before I get started.

thanks Drew

 

[Baby Grand]

Do clamp as close to your weld as possible.
Do not clamp in a location that puts a bearing, bushing, or electrical gear between the clamp and the weld.
Do clamp to bare metal - grind some paint or rust away if you have to.
Do not assume that clamped or bolted joints are good electrical conductors.

If you were so adventurous as to touch the work with bare hands while welding, you would be shocked at how incredibly hot, painful and rank smelling your burning flesh is, but you would not receive an electrical shock. I'd just add that I would never grab the stinger in one hand and the ground in the other - you never want to put your heart in the circuit.

 

[daugen]

you never want to put your heart in the circuit.
But I always put my heart into things...

Ok, keep thinking of a very powerful electrical circuit that one wants to control, not get
in its path. Like lightning in your hand... Or perhaps more plainly, like having the main AC supply
to my house in my hand, 160 amps isn't far away from 200 amps, so there's a whole lot of
juice in that stinger, which needs to stay far away from the ground clamp. Remember, I've never done this before,
and sure have not walked around with 160 amps in my hand. That I don't want to find a way to my heart.
Even if I put my heart into it...:thumbsup:

 

[k0ua]

you never want to put your heart in the circuit.
But I always put my heart into things...

Ok, keep thinking of a very powerful electrical circuit that one wants to control, not get
in its path. Like lightning in your hand... Or perhaps more plainly, like having the main AC supply
to my house in my hand, 160 amps isn't far away from 200 amps, so there's a whole lot of
juice in that stinger, which needs to stay far away from the ground clamp. Remember, I've never done this before,
and sure have not walked around with 160 amps in my hand. That I don't want to find a way to my heart.
Even if I put my heart into it...:thumbsup:

Drew, keep in mind when that arc is drawing 160 amps the arc voltage is about 20 volts or so... Now the open circuit voltage will be a lot higher. by law it cannot be above 80 volts, but even if it its less, lets say 60, it is still enough to kill you if your wet and you are silly enough to grab the work clamp and the stinger in each hand. So don't "put your heart in it" so to speak. Don't become "part of the circuit", but touching one polarity or phase will not shock you, as long as you don't touch the other polarity (if DC) or phase (if AC). But you are far more likely to be burned than shocked. Keep your gloves on, and even when you think the steel is cool, you might be surprised how hot it will remain for a time. You don't need to be a "scare'dy cat" and afraid all the time, but you don't need to be a fool either. Use proper caution and think things through. Now get out there and strike that first arc, and conquer your fears and anxiety's and start making sparks and melting metal:thumbsup:

James K0UA

 

[Gary Fowler]

I have welded in very wet conditions and with wet gloves, wet boots and soaked to the skin and got my share of tingles from the welding leads. When you are wet, grounded and have wet gloves, the electrode holder can give you a little tingle without touching the ground. Grabbing the bare ground clamp while holding on to a wet rod will give a pretty good jolt if your gloves are wet. Keep dry and you will not have a problem. DC current is less likely to shock you than AC as it requires a better ground but it will nab you at times. Generally it is nothing to be afraid of just a slight tingle when it bites you, but do take precautions as folks have said.

 

[jaotguy]

if you must work in wet conditions, slip on a pair of dish washing latex gloves first ... then the welding gloves ...

 

[joshuabardwell]

if you must work in wet conditions, slip on a pair of dish washing latex gloves first ... then the welding gloves ...

All well and good, but if you should be so unlucky as to burn yourself, that latex is going to make a mess of you.

Daugen: as James points out, your house is 200 amps at 240 volts. Your welder operates at much lower voltage. It can push 160 amps through clean metal, which is very conductive, but through a person there will be much less current flow, because of the higher resistance of the human body. Even paint or mill scale will stop the arc from striking.

 

[daugen]

Ok, I won't be a wuss with the juice, it's what makes welding work. I just have a healthy respect for anything that will truly light up my life.
I bought a pair of good Miller welding gloves and once the machine gets turned on, I will try to think twice before moving once.
And burns really, really hurt...

But then so would my chainsaw if I whacked my leg with it. And I love my chainsaw...
Just have to be careful, focused on the job and have gone through a short mental safety check list first

My conclusions so far are that it's unlikely I'm going to shock myself, because I just won't weld in damp conditions.
But I can burn myself, but that's what proper clothes are for.
there are lots of adjustments on the helmet I bought, but I can't do much with that until I'm actually welding and
have something to look at while I adjust the helmet controls.

Lot of totally new stuff to learn here but so far seems to be mostly common sense.
And I've been mentally practicing getting in the zone and slowly dragging that rod. It's the little squiggles I see in so many welds that
still puzzle me, some seem functional I suppose and some even decorative. Like frosting a cake when you really know what you are doing.
No frosting for me, I'd like to get to a continuous functional weld that isn't full of spatter. I'll leave the squiggles until later...

And yes, I will show you my first weld. ArcShield, start drinking now...

 

[k0ua]

This old video will help show you how the "little ripples" are formed by the arc force pushing up the bead.. You will have a better understanding after viewing.

How Arc Welding Works - YouTube

James K0UA

 

[daugen]

Jim, I've seen lots of videos where it looks like the welder is using a gentle rotational or even back and forth motion, sort of like stirring the pot...
and I wondered if that individualized attention would have an effect on "the ripples".

I enjoyed the video, it's a good basic one.
thanks Drew