Welding Reels

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I have been wanting to make a set of lead reels for a long time but have a few questions. I am familiar with the cox reels and alike that sell for $3-4hundred bucks and also the home made reels the guys have made here. Question is I know how they insulate them from the truck and from each other by surrounding the bolted connections with insulating materials of your choice, but if I am not mistaken the reels are hot or at least part of the circuit so if a piece of steel or something on the truck were to fall against both reels connecting them they would arc, correct? Also if someone who didn't know better were to touch them while welding was being performed there is a chance of shock, I know , circumstances would have to be just right.   I would like to use a swivel connector found on the more expensive reels or electrical cord type reels that isolates the cable and does not power through the frame of the reel. Does anyone know the proper name of this connector and where it can be purchased or am I talking about a lot of money. I did see one vendor on the net but the connectors they had didn't seem to fit the bill, they were for multiple wires rather than 1 large conductor such as welding lead.  Oh yeah, think I'll do the reels in aluminum unless anyone knows a reason that is not so good."Si Vis Pacem Para Bellum"Lincoln Idealarc 250 AC/DCMillermatic 251   Syncrowave 300   30A spoolgunLincoln MP210Hypertherm 45(2) LN 25(2) Lincoln Weldanpower 225 CV(4) SA200   1 short hood    SA250    SAM 400
Reply:Here's how I made my own swivels. Been working fine ever since.http://weldingweb.com/vbb/showthread.php?t=43051Millermatic 252XMT 304'sDynasty 280DXHypertherm PowerMax 1250Miller Trailblazer 302 EFIOptima PulserXR feeder and XR Edge gun and more athttp://members.dslextreme.com/users/waynecook/index.htm
Reply:Yes, if you make metal reels and the cable contact is connected to the reel then the reel will be energized or ground depending on which reel it is.  One way around this is to use a slipring contactor like the Mercotac 1250 with a non-conductive reel and then you won't have the concern of the reels being energized.  Personally, I would be more worried about a person accidentally touching both reels at the same time than I would be about a piece of metal falling into them.  The metal is easy to avoid...just don't stack/lean anything up near the reels where that could happen.  People are much more difficult to control.--Wintermute"No man's knowledge here can go beyond his experience." - John Lockewww.improvised-engineering.comManufacturer Agnostic:Blood----------Sweat---------Tears----|------------------|----------------|----Lincoln Red, Miller Blue, Esab Yellow
Reply:It won't shock you if you touch both reels. It never has with mine and it hasn't when I touch the rod in the stinger and my table.