I suggest you add some kind of ammeter (0-5amp). they look just like the one in this circuit. Then you can see what kind of current your working with. I've read some machines work at 1.2A but that seems kind of high. This all depends on the amount of surface area and how close they are together.
If you have a electronic supply store nearby you can pick of a simple one like in the pic and mount it in your setup. Or get a cheap multi meter somewhere.
As for doing a hand bath, I would be cautious. Current running from hand to hand is going threw your heart. Especially with your machine kicking off and on this could be a bad thing...?????>.....
Last night i switched from spoons to the grater. The 12v 800mah was way too strong for all the surface area. I switched it to a 9V 200mah adaptor and it was working great. I did it on someone else though so i can compare.
I want to look more into the circuitry of the maintainer and see what is switching it off and on.... I bought a schumacher SF-1-12S last night. It wasn't working right away and I didn't feel like messing with it so i used the 200mah adaptor. I'm gunna open it up today and see whats inside.
http://images.google.ca/imgres?imgurl=http://www.surplusbattery.com/images/SF...
I seems like the baths only work with magnetic stainless. Some cutlery is non magnetic, when i used them i got no color and did not feel the same effect.