Mig welding in a wet environment?
 

I cried uncle tonight again. I've been trying to weld up some metal on my project dump truck for two weeks now. Im doing this at outside at home because I spend far too much time at the shop, and she has let me know about it.
It has been raining here for what feels like 16 years straight now, and I just cant seem to get a few dry hours to roll out the welder and have at it . Tonight, the skies cleared for two hours, and I was ready to give it heck, but the ground is sopping wet. I would have been basically standing in a puddle. I thought about setting myself up on some plywood, and leather gloves, etc, but I looked it over for a few more minutes, mulled over my options, and decided against it. Getting electrocuted is not the fast way to get a project done.
Is there a real danger of electric shock? Can you ground yourself somehow, to not get zapped? I am sure I have welded at work before with wet floors, and never really thought much about it.
Steel workers have to weld outside all the time, gotta be a way...

I have to think about that a second. You don't want to be ground, no?

I am guessing that if you are a better ground than the panel you are welding on, you may have some troubles.

Rubber boots and gloves.......

Yup.

Wait - it's not that she wants you to be home with her, she just wants you to weld on the truck in your driveway instead of at the shop? Are you sure you didn't miss the message here?

I think Patrick hit the nail on the head. The missus wants you in the home, not just on the same piece of dirt as her. ;)

It's 21 volts, the open circuit voltage is likely under 30 volts....it's not like you are exposed to 220 volts.

The stick welder handle is insulated, and you probably wear gloves. Use the wood if it makes you feel better.

You will be fine

Hello, this.

How long has she put up with you Fred? Buy a bottle of wine and a couple steaks, she deserves it.

She has put up with this for a long , long time. In my defense, I was like this when we first started dating., and I told her that I am not going to change. I cant stand to sit still, and keep my project plate pretty full.
I don't drink, do drugs, golf, gamble, chase women, play cards, or race cars anymore. I like tobuild a few cars/trucks every year, and work around the house. Could be worse.
Taking her out to a nice dinner tonight to finalize our vacation plans . She is a good one , and one of the few I found that would put up with me

We have to hold onto to the good ones and give them some sugar now and then. I can't imagine being separated and having all that tension. I have cleaned the house and cooked supper all week long while my wife has worked 12 hour days trying to catch up on engineering and site work for a house builder she works for.

Wear good dry boots and gloves. Even though the wire voltage is only about 20 volts ,the supply is either 110 or 220v and isn,t protected with a gfi and is just as dangerous as using any electric lawn tool in the wet.