I need to do some welding on a piece of pipe that has been driven into the ground and is in about 3-4 inches of water. If I'm not standing in the water, would it be safe to weld a fitting onto this pipe with a 110V mig welder by grounding on the pipe?

 

I would think so, but I would be nervous.

 

As long as you don't become the ground for the pice being welded you'll be fine.

I've been lit up more times that I can remember welding in the rain and gettting stung because I had wet gloves. The mig should be safe though, now if you detach the ground, hold the pipe and the ground clamp and pull the trigger at the same time.....?
You may not like the results.

 

You will be fine.

Electricity will take the easiest route to ground. Wear gloves (obvious) and don't stand in the water.

Stick welding or gouging in the rain is fun. Have to be a little bit more careful not to get zapped.

 

aluminum ladders aint fun either

 

get some dish gloves and wear them under leather gloves. 110 volts aint enough to hurt you though. ive absorbed thousands of volts over the years and nothing is wrong with me

 

meh, I lick car batteries for fun!

 

You should be fine as long as you stay dry.
Just for facts stick welders run at 24 Volts.
Leather gloves are all you need to handle a live bare 120 circuit.

My worst welding memory was laying under a trailer welding on it when it began to rain. I never heard the rain but I bet the neighbors got a good memory of me hollering. Worst part was my dad was standing right next to me and didnt say a thing

 

I lit my ex bro. inlaw up when we were welding a swim deck on a house boat. he was waist deep in water holding a steel tube when i told him "trust me, you wont get shocked" that guy jumped 10' out of the water when I pulled the trigger on the mig....Must of had a bad ground






yes he is still alive

 

I cannot fathom a reason why he would now be your EX bro in law

 

I've been shocked numerous ways by welders and plasma cutters and just about anything else with Trons. From DC to 400 hz 120. Worst one was when we wired a gen directly to a welder and it didn't work until I touched the welder and the gen . I still have flashbacks.

As for your situation, hook the ground clamp as close to the weld as possible and wear gloves. You'll be fine.

Ranmdy

 

Voltage is not is what will kill you it is current (amperage).

But I agree a 110 volt mig might make you tingle but that is about all. At work we have an old 1000 amp sub arc machine that we use just for gouging and even with rubber gloves sometimes putting carbons in that thing in the rain is fun.

 

speeking of shocking brother in-laws,
I shocked mine the other day when it was raining out side. He was drenched and he was watching me weld trying to learn how it is done. I told him to hold the electrode holder, and grab the peice of steel. I honestly did not think he would do it, but he lit up like a firecracker. Funny but mean. cruel but hilarious.

 

you'll be allright. it can't be as dangerous as a trash bag full of acetylene with a flame nearby. BTW, never kneel down in a damp pickup bed while having the stick welder on 200 amps, trust me. And you thought those STDs would give you the burning crotch sensation.

 

It all depends on how that 110 volts gets to you. More people die every year from 110vac electrocution than say 220 or 440vac. This is a proven fact.

110vac tends to apply just enough juice to contract your muscles causing you to hold on to the electricity long enough to screw up your heart and brain rythms and burn / die. 220 and higher tends to blast you clean across the room and away from the electricity. Neither is too pleasant .

I have been zapped and tingled by arc welders due to improper grounding and had no ill effects other than being slapped to my senses... not really sure what the difference is between this and the wiring in your home ... but there definately IS a difference.

PISTOL