Welder's first kiss

[Dr Dave]

I use old lineman rubber gloves for welding when damp, they work good.

Dave

 

[Gary Fowler]

According to my safety briefings, 5 milliamps is all it takes to stop your heart if the current goes across it. Thankfully most electrical shocks find a path of less resistance and don't travel across the heart. I have been shocked more times than I can count while welding with wet gloves or standing in water (welding in a salt brine tank was the worst, the welding rod would glow in the salt brine) and shocked many times with 110V with no ill effects. I can stand more current than most folks as I seem to have a tolerance for it. I really like the exercise belts that shock and tense the muscles (TENS machines for example). Nothing like working out without actually doing anything.

 

[mjncad]

I seem to recall from our safety briefings at NREL that it was 50 milliamps; but no matter as 5 or 50 milliamps is not much current.

 

[bikerdib]

I've been known to put on the thin nitrile work gloves (similar to kitchen gloves but thicker and more durable) inside my leather welding gloves. It seems to help.

Been zapped once or twice in the last 35+ years of welding.

 

[radioman]

needed a fast fill and had leftover short piece of mig wire. held one with bare hands and started welding. talk about a nice red line burnt in your hand.

 

[joshuabardwell]

needed a fast fill and had leftover short piece of mig wire. held one with bare hands and started welding. talk about a nice red line burnt in your hand.

That woulda worked if it had been O/A.

 

[medic0648]

I'll tell you from experience that nitrle gloves melt and stick to your skin. No fun pulling them off of burned skin.

 

[bikerdib]

I'll tell you from experience that nitrle gloves melt and stick to your skin. No fun pulling them off of burned skin.

Thanks for the warning. I don't use them unless I know my leather gloves are going to get wet which will keep them from getting too hot but I'll probably stop the practice. I can imagine that would really hurt.

 

[medic0648]

Just think slag burning into your skin except plastic over most of your hand. same reason you avoid synthetic clothes while welding. Had a couple guys loose hands and fingers from wearing them under nomex gloves when I was deployed.

 

[daugen]

I've been reading this very carefully, as my first welder is being shipped to me.
One thing I learned as a volunteer fireman was that electricity and water sure don't mix well.

For us newbies, how about the top three safety tips to avoid a "kiss". I'd rather have mine from my wife...