My "DUH!" moment for the weekend.

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I know I'm not the only one that has those moments when you question your own sanity, at least I hope I'm not. Mine this weekend came while I was working on a firebox for a smoker I'm building for a guy.  I'd been cutting 1/4" plate off the back of my utility trailer using my plasma cutter. After putting a couple of pieces together on my welding table I needed to make a little modification so I grabbed my plasma torch and started cutting but this time it wasn't cutting as fast or as clean. I started wondering if I had enough air pressure and voltage so I turned both up, still poor cutting but I got through it. A little while later I went to cut another piece from the sheet on the trailer and sure enough, there was the ground clamp still attached to the sheet on the trailer and it hits me why cutting on the welding table was not so good - no ground! Sometimes we just have to laugh at ourselves. I've forgotten to turn on the gas when MIG welding, I've forgotten to switch polarity when going back and forth from MIG to flux core, and I've even picked up the MIG torch and started to weld without the machine on or the ground clamp attached, but this was a first for the plasma cutter. I did find out it will cut without a ground but not as well as with it. GraysOrnamentalIron.com
Reply:Darn glad I've never done anything like that before.
Reply:My plasma cut like crap today, arc would not stay lit, basically would not cut at all.I just wanted to slice a few welds outside in the fresh air.My ground clamp was nicely grounded, laying on the ground where I had tossed it from the door..... Dave J.Beware of false knowledge; it is more dangerous than ignorance. ~George Bernard Shaw~ Syncro 350Invertec v250-sThermal Arc 161 and 300MM210DialarcTried being normal once, didn't take....I think it was a Tuesday.
Reply:Been there done that. Will scare ya a little bit when you have a Chinese plasma, your like oh crap its the big one.Thermal Arc 210 - Tweco 211I - Cutmaster 52