[greenmountainstate]

So I've been TIG welding as a hobby for about a year or 2 now. I took some late night welding classes at a local technical center and am fairly solid on all processes. However, I have some work clamp questions that despite scouring the internet I have yet to get a solid answer to:
- If my Miller Diversion's work clamp is on the table... shouldn't I avoid leaning on the table while I weld?
- If my Miller Diversions' work clamp is on the workpiece being welded... shouldn't I avoid leaning on the piece or supporting my arm or hand on the piece while welding?
- I bought myself a weldingtipsandtricks TIG finger and suddenly have all these questions, as it appears Jody invented and regularly uses the TIG finger to prop either a finger or you hand on the work being welded... So does that mean his work clamps on the table if he's leaning on the workpiece? Or does it really not matter that you're leaning on the workpiece that also as the work clamp on it, or leaning on the table that your work clamp is grounded to?
I tacked together an entire 1/16" thick aluminum diamond plate cylinder box with my work clamp on the leg of the table I had my workpiece on, and basically leaned on the table the entire time - no shock! I'm looking to find out if that's a hazard or am I just overthinking this? For me being a fairly new beginner, TIG welding just about anything requires I prop an elbow, arm, or hand on either the table or the piece - so I'm just looking for clarity and the safest way to set up my work clamp in regards to the piece I'm working/leaning on.
Any help/answers would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!

[Spartan]

You can touch/lean on the work or the table while you are welding.

[Oscar]

You'll get zing if you lean on the part and you're sleeves are soaked in sweat, or just damp in general. It won't kill you or anything, otherwise I wouldn't be here.

[Spartan]

You'll get zing if you lean on the part and you're sleeves are soaked in sweat, or just damp in general. It won't kill you or anything, otherwise I wouldn't be here.

Don't scare the man, Oscar. What he calls a zing, I call a tiny tingle. It goes well with a cup of coffee to give you a little wake up on those hot afternoons.

It really won't hurt you, as Oscar somewhat mentioned, and it is uncommon. It also can be an indicator that either your ground clamp action could use a little work, or that you are in HF mode, which is really just a marketing term for HV mode.

[tweake]

its only bad if you become part of the circuit.
like one hand on the table/work and you drop an active torch into your leg.
also what helps is welding uses fairly low voltage, dry clothes insulate you quite well.

however what can tingle or zing is from the HF. especial if its set quite strong.

[BillE.Dee]

It was a damp day and the humidity was everywhere. I lit up the torch and WAMMO...got the "zing" happen. I'm still looking for that filler rod after 3 months....WHERE THE HECK DID IT GO ???
I don't want to hear it,,WE have all done it.

[sbaker56]

It'll only shock you if you become the easiest path for current to take from the tig torch to the ground. Simply being in contact with one part of the live circuit won't do a thing if it can't complete the circuit through you. Generally the voltage is low enough that it won't go through any sort of gloves, or any sort of dry clothing.

The exception is the HF start, It can't output high enough amps to be dangerous if you're healthy. But It'll jump through the dang insulated torch body to get to ground. Best way to not get shocked is just to make sure it has an easier path than through you.