What size wire for welder extension cable?

[Sharpe]

I need to make an extension cable for my welder but dont know what size or type of wire to use. I went to homo depot today and got the plugs but aparently knowing about wiring is not a prerequisit to working in the electrical department and none of the 'tards there could help. They had plenty of wire that was big but as expensive at is I want to do it right the first time. My welder is a millermatic 210 and the plugs that fit it say 250 volt 50 amp.

[Doug Krebs]

I need to make an extension cable for my welder but dont know what size or type of wire to use. I went to homo depot today and got the plugs but aparently knowing about wiring is not a prerequisit to working in the electrical department and none of the 'tards there could help. They had plenty of wire that was big but as expensive at is I want to do it right the first time. My welder is a millermatic 210 and the plugs that fit it say 250 volt 50 amp.

how many amps does it actually pull? How long of a cord do you want? Both make a difference. You can probably find the info in the owners manual or online.

[eight]

8 ga minimum. 6 ga prefered. You should have bought it a year ago. Copper expensive now yea?

[agjohn02]

depends on what the circuit is rated at too. im run 10-3 and it works well. a 40' cord costs right at $100.

i bet your 220v is 30 amp. is it a dryer plug with the right angle third prong?

[Sharpe]

I'm lookin to make one 20 or 30'. The plug looks like a bigass 110, 2 parallel blades, one wider than the other, and then a 3rd round one.

[Graystroke]

go to central electric in bryan...one stop shop

[agjohn02]

check the circuit and see what the breaker is. thats a 50A plug.

if its a 50A circuit use 8AWG. 6 would be overkill and a waste of money.

[Doug Krebs]

lazy ass

Seems kinda wimpy, but thats what the current model requires. For my welder the owners manual said it could use 14 gauge for 60'