Is it safe?

[Rambozo]

Hi there. I have been looking at inverter welders for a little while. Between all the added features and not needing a forklift to move them around, plus the space savings, I think it would be perfect for me. The lower power consumption is the icing on the cake. I could never justify the cost of blue or red, but green is looking pretty good to me.

[ncsugrad2006]

Of course they are safe

[performance]

Welding is an unsafe occupation....Let's make that clear to begin with. People die each year due to electrocution, and severe burns received related to welding. Yes, in some conditions, you can receive a lethal shock form almost any welder...but not more or less so with ours.

[Rambozo]

Actually, I was just quoting the movie "Marathon Man".

[hokiefd]

Welding is an unsafe occupation....Let's make that clear to begin with. People die each year due to electrocution, and severe burns received related to welding. Yes, in some conditions, you can receive a lethal shock form almost any welder...but not more or less so with ours.

Common sense goes a long way.

Actually, I was just quoting the movie "Marathon Man".

. Great scene!

[Rodsmachineshop]

So i guess standing in a bucket of water while welding is unsafe lol

[undercut]

Welding is an unsafe occupation....Let's make that clear to begin with. People die each year due to electrocution, and severe burns received related to welding. Yes, in some conditions, you can receive a lethal shock form almost any welder...but not more or less so with ours.

Never ceases to amaze me how product material needs to loudly pronounce what I think is a bit obvious. Using temperatures high enough to melt metal by utilizing electrical arcs that create blindingly bright light. How can anyone NOT think it is dangerous!

I was reading a label the other day on a can of peanuts. In large print it said, * ALLERGY WARNING - CONTAINS PEANUTS *.

[performance]

Never ceases to amaze me how product material needs to loudly pronounce what I think is a bit obvious. Using temperatures high enough to melt metal by utilizing electrical arcs that create blindingly bright light. How can anyone NOT think it is dangerous!

I was reading a label the other day on a can of peanuts. In large print it said, * ALLERGY WARNING - CONTAINS PEANUTS *.

With the light regard given toward welding safety and the trivial way it is presented in so many reality shows that feature fabrication and welding, most people glamorize it and along the way forget the shear danger of it. FWIW, you do NOT need to be standing in a bucket of water to get a lethal shock...just a little sweaty or find your heart in the path the electricity decides to take to finding ground.

[Rodsmachineshop]

I have got zapped with my sweaty arm laying on the metal mig welding it wakes you up lol arm was numb for about a half and hour . really i have more problems catching myself on fire when welding always ether have a pant leg on fire or my shirt

[hokiefd]

I have got zapped with my sweaty arm laying on the metal mig welding it wakes you up lol arm was numb for about a half and hour

ouch...

[Rodsmachineshop]

sweat is a magnet for shocks

[ncsugrad2006]

zzzzap

Any suggestions for not getting shocked? I'd rather not get zapped, lol.

Just a matter of making sure no bare skin is around anything conductive?

[hokiefd]

zzzzap

Any suggestions for not getting shocked? I'd rather not get zapped, lol.

Just a matter of making sure no bare skin is around anything conductive?

Pretty much. Make sure your clothes and gloves remain dry, including when you are sweating.

[bobwills]

If you feel you are sweating much and shirt and gloves get damp just switch it out with another shirt.

[Brian Ski]

Speaking of safe and welding... I was always wondering about getting a shock. I have heard and seen guy that would change out rods on a stick welder without gloves while it is on... Does the flux insulate the rod or are these guys just lucky??? What do you stick welders do???

[posixPilot]

I have heard and seen guy that would change out rods on a stick welder without gloves while it is on... Does the flux insulate the rod or are these guys just lucky???

Definitely wear gloves, and if I think my gloves may be sweaty, I'll turn the machine off to swap rods ( and gloves). Remember that when you do not have an arc struck, you are holding and open, high resistance circuit in your hands. All you need to do is provide the electricity with a lower resistance path via your sweaty or ungloved hand.

Here's an interesting article that puts things in perspective: http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/face/stateface/mi/03mi193.html

With everything this poor guy did wrong, it appears that changing rods with out gloves killed him.

Cheers
Mike

[Winky]

Definitely wear gloves, and if I think my gloves may be sweaty, I'll turn the machine off to swap rods ( and gloves). Remember that when you do not have an arc struck, you are holding and open, high resistance circuit in your hands. All you need to do is provide the electricity with a lower resistance path via your sweaty or ungloved hand.

Here's an interesting article that puts things in perspective: http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/face/stateface/mi/03mi193.html

With everything this poor guy did wrong, it appears that changing rods with out gloves killed him.

Cheers
Mike

The link is amazing ... it's like I was telling someone the other day ... you can get away with not following safety guidelines maybe a hundred times but that 101 time will get ya ... best to work smart.

[hokiefd]

Speaking of safe and welding... I was always wondering about getting a shock. I have heard and seen guy that would change out rods on a stick welder without gloves while it is on... Does the flux insulate the rod or are these guys just lucky??? What do you stick welders do???

It sounds like that guy should start playing the lottery.

[Brian Ski]

It sounds like that guy should start playing the lottery.

I asked the guy and he said it was fine but he uses dry clean rods.

[bobwills]

It wont shock you if are not touching the grounded metal or ground. The flux provides insulation on the rod... but if it has a bad spot or is wet electricity can pass through it. So still wear gloves especially if you are on the grounded metal. The only way it will shock you if it finds a path to ground. Gloves will provide you with the insulation most of the time.