plugging MIG into portable?

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I need to do some welding on a barge for a buddy of mine. There is no power available to it. He has a Miller Bobcat 225, a few years old. It's a 8000w generator. I will use it to weld some of the stuff I have to weld, but I want to use my Lincoln PowerMig 255 to weld as much as possible because I'm a better Mig welder than I am stick. I used to be alright with stick but haven't done much in about 10 years.My questions are: Will the Bobcat run the Lincoln? I want to use it in welding the 1/4" & 3/8" plate to the I-beams and pontoons. I'll use the Bobcat to weld the I-beams to the pontoons. I haven't actually seen the barge yet so I'm just going off a phone conversationn as to what needs to be done. I don't know the draw of the Lincoln or the continuous power of the Miller. I figure maybe 6500 watts out of the Miller??? Any ideas on where to find the info? I'll try Lincoln & Miller's websites in a minute.The Miller has a 4-prong receptacle and my Lincoln has a three prong plug. Can I change the plug or make an adapter cord or is there a reason I can't? I'm not real knowledgable about electricity (wrong field then, huh?  ) but I did just buy the Miller Instructor series books but haven't had time to get through them yet.Any help is appreciated. Thanks.Always looking for another old VW, especially in the southeast.
Reply:could'nt tell ya...but i'm sure someone will float by with the info in hand soon... ...zap!I am not completely insane..Some parts are missing Professional Driver on a closed course....Do not attempt.Just because I'm a  dumbass don't mean that you can be too.So DON'T try any of this **** l do at home.
Reply:You need to make an adapting extension cord.  You can make it as long as you like.  You'll want at least #10 wire, 3-conductor (including ground) SOOW (or similar) cord.  #8 will be better, but not necessary.Use a NEMA 14-50P plug on one end of the extension cord (with the center neutral prong not wired or installed) and a NEMA 6-50R or C on the other end to plug in the MIG.The generator will supply about 33 amps on that circuit, enough to power your welder at somewhere about 60% of maximum output, which should be sufficient for many jobs.  You'll be able to do a lot, but be prepared to hit a limit that is still well under that machine's capability.Last edited by MAC702; 09-26-2006 at 08:40 PM.
Reply:Thanks. I was thinking 30' would be long enough because with the length of the welder and whip would put me anywhere on the barge easily. I figured it would work but thanks for the specifics.*edit* Thanks again. That's pretty much what I was thinking, that it would work but not up to max.Always looking for another old VW, especially in the southeast.
Reply:I have run a 850 hypertherm plasma on my bobcat.
Reply:I did an experiment with my Ranger 10,000 and a Power Mig that I just bought.  I used a 10 foot piece of #6 cable.  The Mig would run, but I could never strike an arc.  Even on low settings.
Reply:if you got a 225 bobcat why not just stick weld it?ChuckASME Pressure Vessel welder
Reply:Or get a VS feeder and run some dual shield? or regular F/C??
Reply:Originally Posted by chopper5if you got a 225 bobcat why not just stick weld it?