Welding Safety

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I have welded for years but only on small projects.  I am welding an outdoor kitchen frame of 16 ga steel studs.  Is there any danger with my contact with the steel while I am welding it?  It's rather large and I find myself having to lean on the steel to get to some of the welding areas.  I am using MIG with argon/CO2 gas.
Reply:I welded nothing but 16 ga galv studs for nearly 10 years straight. I leaned on them, hung from them, sat on them and any other position you can imagine. No ill effects ever, except when they were wet.  I would say go for it. Just be sure to wear gloves and keep them dry and you will be fine.If the studs are galvanized, you may have trouble with the galv and the solid wire/c-25. Some coatings just would not burn off with solid wire and popped and pinholed something awul. Flux core is a better choice in that case and what I would probably use in the first place. No chance of loosing shielding and it will definitely burn through the galv. You wouldn't have to remove the coating, just weld it, keep your head out of the plume and do not breathe the smoke. You should be fine.
Reply:Since this is a new Thread I have a request of all.  When refering to Flux Cored Wire Please Refer as Gas Shielded or Self Shielded PLEASE, sometimes my answers are confusing because of that, I guess you can tell I am not a Self Shielding wire man, to many reasons why.  Thanks JohnSMAW,GMAW,FCAW,GTAW,SAW,PAC/PAW/OFCand Shielding Gases.  There all here. :
Reply:I weld all the time while in some way being in contact with whatever Im working on. Occasionally you get a shock in your hands when grabbing a stinger or a nozzle on a wire feed. This only happens when my hands are wet and a simple solution is to wear latex gloves under your welding gloves.  when in doubt, remember electricity is lazy and always takes the path of least resistance back to ground. So position yourself and your groundclamp accordingly in relation to where you are welding.2011 Dodge 3500 diesel duallyLincoln SA-200Lincoln SAE-300LN-25'sLincoln Idealarc R3RMiller Trailblazer 302
Reply:I've been welding since I was 16 and I'm 42 now. I've gotten a little tickle of a shock from MIG a total of 1 time and it was my fault because the piece of metal I was holding wasn't grounded and I was. I never been shocked by stick welding.
Reply:You should not breath the fumes from the galvanized studs.Me!
Reply:Originally Posted by weldgaultSince this is a new Thread I have a request of all.  When refering to Flux Cored Wire Please Refer as Gas Shielded or Self Shielded PLEASE, sometimes my answers are confusing because of that, I guess you can tell I am not a Self Shielding wire man, to many reasons why.  Thanks John
Reply:Originally Posted by weldgaultSince this is a new Thread I have a request of all.  When refering to Flux Cored Wire Please Refer as Gas Shielded or Self Shielded PLEASE, sometimes my answers are confusing because of that, I guess you can tell I am not a Self Shielding wire man, to many reasons why.  Thanks John
Reply:There are Flux Cored Wires that have to have a Gas Sheild and some of them do not have to have a gas shield.  JohnSMAW,GMAW,FCAW,GTAW,SAW,PAC/PAW/OFCand Shielding Gases.  There all here. :
Reply:Originally Posted by weldgaultThere are Flux Cored Wires that have to have a Gas Sheild and some of them do not have to have a gas shield.  John
Reply:Originally Posted by weldgaultSince this is a new Thread I have a request of all.  When refering to Flux Cored Wire Please Refer as Gas Shielded or Self Shielded PLEASE, sometimes my answers are confusing because of that, I guess you can tell I am not a Self Shielding wire man, to many reasons why.  Thanks John
Reply:not taking sides, but when I was in school we were required to learn the "field terminology" of the different processes.  I have never used the term SMAW etc since. Oh wait, I just did2011 Dodge 3500 diesel duallyLincoln SA-200Lincoln SAE-300LN-25'sLincoln Idealarc R3RMiller Trailblazer 302