What do you guys think? I know, I know, stick welding is supposed to be harder than MIG but I have to learn it for shop class anyway and I'd like to have one to fix stuff or make something, especially if I have to make a project for shop. I think I will get 6013(50lb box for $20) and 7018AC based on 6013 being for general use and 7018AC being for higher strength(I plan to make a hitch for the '75, either way with a Reese Hitch or homemade it will probably need to be welded). Plus, it's the cheapest one I found that is a reputable welder that has a decent duty cycle, welds just about anything I would need to weld, and isn't made overseas(as far as I know). At any rate, people seem to have good success with the name and it seems to be a good welder so I've picked this one. The only problem is that I don't have an outlet in my shed where the welder will go and I will have to either run a line or make an extension cord. I really don't know if I can run a line to the shed or not so I'm leaning towards an extension cord if it is safe. I know they make 220v extension cords but the ones I've found are in excess of $200. I've found a 220 outlet that is on it's own line and not in use. The only problem there is that the outlet has the wrong receptacle on it and the breaker isn't big enough. It needs the dryer type for the welder but has one that looks like - -
- No problem there, just change out the breaker(to 50 Amp as such the Hobart site says) and receptacle right? Or can I leave the receptacle the same and put two different ends on the extension cord? I don't know if it would matter or not. Secondly, I don't know if a heavy duty 110v extension cord with 220v ends on it would be heavy enough. It seems to me that this could be really dangerous and the sensible thing to do would be to get the welder out of the shed and move it close enough to the house to plug it in when I need it(only 10-15 ft) until I can get a professional extension cord or have someone who knows what they are doing run a line to the shed for me. So, any opinions?
(BTW, I've not decided on mig welders because they are more expensive and even with the $50-$100 for welding supplies added onto the stick welder it is still cheaper than the smallest mig welder they have which has a 20% duty cycle at 90 to 100 amps versus the stick welders 100% at 90-100 amps.)
