Need a Welder Extension Cord

[jimgood]

I need a 25' extension cord for my Miller 211 when I connect to the 220v outlet. The outlet is 6-50R.

I know I can buy one but the prices start around $70.

I was wondering if I could make one up cheaper and was trying to source the components but I don't know what kind of wire/cable to search for. So, what kind of wire should I be searching for?

Thanks!

 

[sberry]

You need a 12 or better cord to connect it to a 50A circuit. 70$ isn't super terrible and it will work with machines heavier than a 211.

 

[jimgood]

Google isn't very helpful entering "12 or better cord" so can you be more specific? Are there specific trade names for the cord that would narrow the search?

 

[Thumper68]

All my welder ext cords are made from 6ga soow and the proper cord ends, that being said there is no way I could make one for <70 the ends themselves cost close to that.

Over kill for most guys but my Mig requires a 60amp circuit.

 

[Thumper68]

Google isn't very helpful entering "12 or better cord" so can you be more specific?

I would go with 10ga soow.

 

[jimgood]

All my welder ext cords are made from 6ga soow and the proper cord ends, that being said there is no way I could make one for <70 the ends themselves cost close to that.

Over kill for most guys but my Mig requires a 60amp circuit.

I would go with 10ga soow.

Ok. That's helpful.

I think my 220 outlets are on 50 amp circuits (I'll double check). And the cords I was looking at are 50 amp.

 

[jimgood]

So, it looks like it's cheaper to buy one. This one is $60. That's the best price I've seen.

http://www.wireandcabletogo.com/Por...-Welder-Extension-Cord-25ft-or-50ft-Amps.html

Edit: Damn. $21 shipping! No thanks.

I'll keep looking.

 

[BLUE72CAMARO]

Nice chart of ampacity of soow cord here.

http://www.southwire.com/ProductCatalog/proddetail.jsp?htmlpreview=true&token=282&desc=Viper

According to that you will need 6/3 to make a 50 amp capable cord.

 

[jimgood]

Nice chart of ampacity of soow cord here.

http://www.southwire.com/ProductCatalog/proddetail.jsp?htmlpreview=true&token=282&desc=Viper

According to that you will need 6/3 to make a 50 amp capable cord.

Thanks. That's helpful too.

 

[Beemer533]

I recently made an extension cord for my 200A Tig welder (240VAC) from some 10/3 SOOW... It is an inverter based machine though and only pulls a max of 28A @ 240. The power cord on the machine is only 12AWG, so I am not worried about it.

I only use the extension cord if I have to weld away from my bench..

http://www.mcmaster.com/#7081k41/=115jl7r


The ends aren't cheap though... $70 is a pretty good price for a pre-assembled one, depending on how it is made.

 

[jimgood]

Yeah. Considering the price of the individual components, it looks like buying a ready made cord is cheaper. Oy!

 

[Beemer533]

Yup, the only reason I even bothered to make my own was I had an extra 25' lying around from a job.. Even with the free SOOW though, I still spent close to $50 for the ends..

 

[simpler=better]

Look into RV or boat shore power cords...I've heard that you can find ones with busted ends cheap here & there.

 

[sberry]

The chart that shows 6 for 50 is for continuous load. Ready made welder cords are made from 8 which is heavy enough for the biggest machines that come with factory 50a ends. There are 250 migs with hi duty cycles.

 

[sberry]

I think the rest of the machines come with number 12 cords.

 

[goodysgotacuda]

All my welder ext cords are made from 6ga soow and the proper cord ends, that being said there is no way I could make one for <70 the ends themselves cost close to that.

Yep.

I made my own extension because I needed one (that day) and had a Lowe's gift card. It was around $90 for the ends and heavily insulated (SOOW) 10ga wire.

$70 is a good price.

 

[jimgood]

Even with shipping, $81 seems to be a good deal so I ordered one. Best deal on Amazon Prime was over that. Prime has not really been that helpful lately.

Anyway, thanks for all the input.

 

[Showkey]

# 6 wire for a $109 they do run free shipping sales from time to time.

http://www.eastwood.com/welder-extension-cord-25-ft.html

 

[MoonRise]

Apparently too late for the OP, but Cyberweld has a 25' 8/3 6-50 extension cord for welders for $72.

With free shipping.

http://store.cyberweld.com/230voexco25.html

 

[laser3kw]

welder-extension-cord link

I bought this one:
menards 20 ft welder extension cord link
20 FOOT! (notice the description says "50 amp and the text specs says "40 amp")

I couldn't buy the materials to do it for those prices

 

[tarbellb]

I bought the big blue Coleman 1917, 25', 8/3 with lighted ends to use with my Miller.

IIRC it was ~$60-70 on sale. Its a nice cord, definitely beefie, and has the correct plugs to connect your machine.

Its a bit hard to coil/unwind, but at 8/3 and 25' its expected.

(i found it elsewhere but)
Amazon link- http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002IZ99G6/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[Jess]

I am a fan of making my own, but even wholesale, I couldn't get the ends and cable for what I bought one at the local tool place. Pays to shop around.

 

[sberry]

Yes its really a break even deal to buy one. I have an app where the end fixturing needs a 25 ft 12 cord and even if I find a piece for free gonna cost to put ends on. Its worth shopping a little, 10 bucks cheaper at Menards than Lowes.

 

[sberry]

I would trade a 6 for a 10 if I was going to be using it regular for handling. In an original shop setup and move in a couple times had a piece of 10 about 70 ft hanging on the cart or hanging on the wall and could wheel any place or anywhere. A guy can often hang a cord like that up out of the way, actally put the hanger on wall vs cart.
If I buy a new tool I am also not skeered to move or add wiring for it to make a home or convenience outlet. I don't have to move or make any adjustments to make a common weld. I got a cord drop in a good place, lets me move all around the work area to be able to get situated as good as possible. It takes more cord to get all the way around a car than one might think. Some cord on a compact 200 feeder doesnt hurt a thing.
New inverter stick welders too, run from 100 ft of 12 no problem.
The case for making my own would be custom where mobility might be an issue, maybe converting a long piece I already had.

 

[sberry]

The thing that amazes me about welding and general steel fabrication is how many of ones lifes problems it can seem to solve.

 

[RVA-Jeff]

My Miller 211 manual says 14ga wire is OK for an extension cord. Surprises me.

 

[chops101]

I bought the big blue Coleman 1917, 25', 8/3 with lighted ends to use with my Miller.

IIRC it was ~$60-70 on sale. Its a nice cord, definitely beefie, and has the correct plugs to connect your machine.

Its a bit hard to coil/unwind, but at 8/3 and 25' its expected.

(i found it elsewhere but)
Amazon link- http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002IZ99G6/?tag=atomicindus08-20

I have the same cord, on a Lincoln 175. Works fine.

 

[Fluxion]

I went to get the 20' from Menards and our store no longer carries it so I bought this one off eBay. http://www.ebay.com/itm/25-220-Volt-50-Amp-Heavy-Duty-8-3-Welder-Extension-Cord-MIG-TIG-Plasma-/221986598131?hash=item33af6eacf3 Its nice and heavy and was cheaper than I could make myself, I like the lighted socket end and the plug end has a nice loop to help with unplugging from a wall socket.

 

[sberry]

My Miller 211 manual says 14ga wire is OK for an extension cord. Surprises me.

Yes but it needs to be on a 30A breaker though. A 14 delivers all the power it needs. The 240 models come with a 12 cord which allows them to be used on 50A circuits.

 

[nadogail]

Made my cord from some 8/3 I picked up at Home Depot after chatting up the department manager.

My welder, table saw, and extension cords use 50 Amp Range Plugs and Receptacles because they were the cheapest things around.