Q: Bench-mounted hydraulics, and welding?

[Brad54]

I'm getting ready to build my welding table, and just picked up a vintage Studebaker hydraulic bench vise... I'm going to mount the vise to the side of the welding table, and will make a frame/holder for the foot control pedals to keep them off the ground.

There shouldn't be any problem welding on that table, will there? The table will be sitting on rubber insulators, so it won't ground electricity. I'd be concerned about the hydraulic unit if it was sitting on the ground, but with it suspended in the air, I don't anticipate a problem.

Someone asked me about it and got me to wondering, so I thought I'd post the question here.

-Brad

 

[alex71]

I don't see why there would be any problem. Electricity will always find the path of least resistance to ground, which is going to be your ground clamp connected directly to the table.

 

[Sancho]

I'd only be concerned but potentially igniting any leaking fluid. This is easily managed by using certain types of fluid, but perhaps some of the hyd experts on here can answer it better.