: I didn't realize that Bill. I guess that would explain my
: fiberglass firefighter helmet. I've melted off a few flip-down
: visors, and burnt up a couple sets of gear over the years, but
: the helmet's never failed me.

: Kirk

Now how did I know that there must be an electrician or two on this forum. :)

Yes, the setup that I use could shock you. The simplest fix is to leave the iron handle on, which, if you are more skilled than I was at figuring out how to get it off in one piece, will work fine. It will make clamping the thing down a bit more of a challenge, but that problem should be solvable. In any case, if the handle is left on, the unit could be used in hand held mode, which may prove advantageous.

Although the shock hazard looks high, I find that I am working on the opposite side of the iron from the wiring, and the support frames protect the innards to some degree. I will continue to use the thing as it is, but I don't recommend the open wiring to others, particularly not others with kids around. As mentioned elsewhere a gfci outlet would be a great idea, and they are reasonably cheap even if purchased just for the project. If using a rig like this outdoors or in a damp environment, a gfci outlet would be absolutely necessary.

Thanks everyone for bringing this issue up,

Best regards,

Allan Edie