Whats hot?

[Bug Dude]

Hi All,
I am a brand new welder (mig) and have what is probably a dumb question. Richard Finch in his book "Welder's Handbook" recomends attaching ground clamp to the metal welding-table top
instead of to the work. Doesn't the energy have to pass through the whole top to get to the ground with this set-up? Is whole table top electricly hot if you do this?

Also what is advantage of C-25 over streight CO2?

Your help is greatly appreciated?


Don

[Sberry]

Yes, the bench will be live but thats ok and it would be anyway if the work was in contact with it. The electric always wants to get back to the source if came from, in the case of the welding machine it is the machine itself. I will point out one thing,, feeders tend to like the most direct ground possible. I have thru the floor grounding connecting some benches and even tho its grounded, migs spit and sputter thru that link. Move it to the same bench you are welding on and it works great. Running the leads together, along side each other makes them work better too. This doesnt seem to be such a factor with stick machines.

[Bug Dude]

Thanks for the reply. Am I correct then in assuming that I would not get a shock or buzz if I touched the table as long as the ground clamp was connected to give the current a better path back to the machine?

Thanks
Don

I just realized I should have put this thread on "processes"

[dsergison]

yup, as long as you don't use yourself to COMPLETE the circut you won't feel a thing. (I.E. -- hold the table with one hand and try and strike an arc on your knee cap with the other hand

just like wireing up outlets live. you can touch one side or the other but not both.




on the other hand I've been zaping myself with the HF start on the tig alot lately. from holding the filler too close to the lightning with my arm on the table.

[Hobart Expert Rock]

BIG DUDE WELCOME ABOARD..............NO DUMB QUESTION HERE IF THEIR ARE I WILL ANSWER/ASK THEM...........ON THE GAS CO2 IS THE LEAST EXPENSIVE AND DOES SPLATTER A BIT MORE BUT WILL ALSO TEND TO DRIVE THE ARC A LITTLE HARDER.......... BE SAFE NOW AND HOW DID YOU FIND THE SITE.............ROCK....
[email protected]

[Seldom]

This attachment may help you concerning gases.

As long as you stay dry, you shouldn't have much of a problem with minor shocking. If you are wet from sweat or rain and you touch your weldment when you strike or initate your arc, you'll find that you certainly are a part of the circuit!

I used this to my advantage with beligerent fitters that liked to shake my work bench while I was welding and thought it was real funny when it jerked me off. I'd just wait for a rainy or hot day when they'd have wet gloves on. When they would a fitting to be tacked, I'd just light up on the flange and that would light them up as well. It didn't take too many of those applications to teach them to leave my bench alone while I was welding!

[INTP]

Seldom,

What's the source of that image?

Thanks.

[Seldom]

Last night I went down to my files and books looking for another sketch for a similar post and remembered seeing this. It's out of the-
"AWS Welding Handbook, Vol 2, Welding Process 8th ed."

[Bug Dude]

Thanks all for your help. You've answered all my questions and then some. This site is a great resourse of information / experience. I will be checking back frequently to see what you are up to. I found the site on a google search.

Don

[HELLTACO]

A lotta chops hook da grounds to da columns of da building so's you can get a ground from anywhere. Chu jus gots ta be careful dat power tools or cranes don't become da ground. In meny jears I only seen one grinder an' one mag drill geet smoked.