"sPoNiX" wrote in message
...
On 14 Jun 2004 08:52:46 GMT, wrote:

Why? It could well be argued that it would be safer if you *didn't*
earth it. Then if you have a faulty electric drill (or whatever) and
happend to touch the bench as the same time as the faulty drill you
won't get a shock.

A faulty drill placed on an earthed metal workbench will blow a fuse
somewhere.

A faulty metal drill placed on an isolated metal bench will make the
bench live. Touch that and you couldl be acting as an earth conductor!

sPoNIX

Only problem I can see is that if you weld on the bench, and the other lead
of the welder is not connected properly, could the earth lead for the bench
act as a return path for the welder? Or is the welder transformer isolated
so that with no return path it just doesn't work?

mrcheerful