shocking experience

[openboater]

Well, the other day, I was playing with my 180SD, tig'ing on some coffee cans (.012 thickness) to see how well I could do. I can run a bead without filler quite well. I tried using some 1/16 inch rod as filler as that is the smallest I have and as I thought was having problems.

Well, at one point, my shakes were timed just perfectly and the rod fused to the tungsten, and the next shake made me break the arc to the tin can I could feel the tingle go up rod, thru my arm.

this is the first time I ever felt a tingle from a welder. I was indoors, perfectly dry and of course leaning on the grounded welding table. I've only been tig welding for a year, but stick welding on old rusty pick-up trucks for 30.

Should I expect this as a regular event ??

[Hobart Expert Rock]

OPENBOATER...........WELL SIR..........MAYBE WHAT HAPPENED WAS WHEN YOU BROKE THE ARC THE TORCH (TUNGESTON) WAS STILL CLOSE ENOUGH TO THE METAL THAT IT TRIED TO REESTABLISH THE ARC........... IF THAT IS THE CASE TYPICAL HIGH FREQUENCY IS 3000 VOLTS.......... THAT IS HOW THEY GET THE ARC TO JUMP....... LEANING ON THE BENCH.........WELL SIR......... ELECTRICITY TAKES THE PATH OF LEAST RESISTANCE AND A LARGE PART OF US IS WATER............. I ALWAYS TRY NOT TO DO THAT AND I ALWAYS TRY NOT TO TOUCH THE METAL BARE HANDED..... IT IS USUALLY HOT.............ROCK.............
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[openboater]

both hands were gloved. leather gloves.

I tig with both elbows leaning against the steel workbench to steady my forearms, and usually one foot on the crosspiece of the workbench. should I do something different ?

it's impossible for me to hold a consistant 1/8 inch arc length without leaning on something.

[Stu Bass]

Originally posted by openboater
both hands were gloved. leather gloves.

I tig with both elbows leaning against the steel workbench to steady my forearms, and usually one foot on the crosspiece of the workbench. should I do something different ?

it's impossible for me to hold a consistant 1/8 inch arc length without leaning on something.

open boater: I usually hold the tig tortch like a pencil and stick my little finger down using it to support my hand this frees up my arms and am able to tig a long ways . To prevent my little finger from getting hot I take an old weld glove and chop off a finger or thumb and put the chopped off piece over my gloved little finger Stu

[TheOldOne]

Yep it will bite you. Have had it happen many times. Also if the rod is stuck to the tungsten and you become part of the circuit the rod will burn the **** out of you.

[bjdenommee]

Hope your not the guy with the pace maker

[mdg3369]

I get a similar "tingling" effect when I forget to hook up the ground clamp...
The HF gives a good zap to remind me that I'm stupid and have forgotten the ground...
Reading this though, makes me more aware of leaning on the welding table. I always have when tig welding (a few months now), I can't hold a steady arc length without resting on the table, but I'm going to make a point of being more careful. Getting the rod stuck to the tungesten, loosing the arc to the work piece, and trying to establish the arc through my rod holding arm wouldn't be good...
Mike