No, the wire should be dead unless the trigger is pressed. Also the voltage is low if the trigger was pressed, but you would still have to be making a circuit via the earth return, so don't worry. If your still concerned use a pair of cutters with insulated handles.
Imagine the amount of production time lost if every welder turned off there unit to cut the mig wire then turned it on again.
Just nip it off it's not live till the trigger is pressed and the wire is in contact with the return.
Thanks, that is what I thought, but I just want to check. I did not know the trigger controlled the current, I thought it was just the gas and the wire feed.
You never touch the old rod just loosen and shake. The new rod should be dry and hence the flux is an insulator add to that your going to be wearing gloves
Anyhow I have had many welding tingles and only one good jolt and non involved touching mig wire or inserting electrodes in mma
Graphite coated rods are conductive (cast iron welding rods) you can easily short them out on the sides of workpieces if you are doing a job where access is tight. So not all fluxes are insulators.