8 gauge extension cord good for a 220v mig welder?

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Hi, would like to use a 220v mig welder in my barn.  It is about 105' from my house.  I have a roll of 8 gauge, 3 wire direct burry cable.  Does anyone know if that will be good to make an extension cord out of?
Reply:It would be ok for low amps but i would go with 6 or even 4 gauge wire for best results.. I had 75' to my welder and I used 6 but wish i would of went with the 4 now.. You could call your local welding store they can recomend the best thing for you..
Reply:Ive got about 60' of 8 gauge to my 220v, and so far everything has worked fine, but 105' is almost twice the distance.
Reply:Which machine do you have?  Lincoln list wire size in the owners manual for up to 100ft 10ga is acceptable so I would say that you should be fine using 8ga.  I have two 85ft cords made up for my two powermig 255's using 10ga, and have never had a problem.  However if you have and older machine that draws more current it may take a bigger wire.Graydevil,  what problems are you having with the 6ga that makes you wish you had used 4ga?Also I am talking COPPER wire, and not aluminum.I'm a Lover, Fighter, Wild horse Rider, and a pretty good welding man......
Reply:8 gauge copper UF cable is rated at 40 amps for most typical uses.Voltage drop shouldn't be an issue when drawing 40 amps at a length of around 100 feet.So electrically, #8 UF copper is good for a 40 amp load.However, physically, #8 UF, with its stiff conductor and  jacket,  is not going to stand much rolling up, and therefore isn't the best choice for continuous extension cord duty.Good Luck
Reply:You got the UF cable, why don't you just bury it, hard wire it at the house panel and install a receptical in the Barn ?DaKK
Reply:Originally Posted by dakookYou got the UF cable, why don't you just bury it, hard wire it at the house panel and install a receptical in the Barn ?
Reply:The UF cable is not for extension cordsEd Conleyhttp://www.screamingbroccoli.com/MM252MM211 (Sold)Passport Plus & Spool gunLincoln SP135 Plus- (Gone to a good home)Klutch 120v Plasma cutterSO 2020 benderBeer in the fridge
Reply:would 10 gauge be alright to wire a direct outlet straight from a 50 amp breaker to run a welder?  Or will I need heavier wire?  The machine would be a Hobart stickmate AC/DC.
Reply:Originally Posted by yammymanIve got about 60' of 8 gauge to my 220v, and so far everything has worked fine, but 105' is almost twice the distance.
Reply:Originally Posted by 99trxriderwould 10 gauge be alright to wire a direct outlet straight from a 50 amp breaker to run a welder?  Or will I need heavier wire?  The machine would be a Hobart stickmate AC/DC.
Reply:UF cable (outdoor Romex) is worse for extension cords than even NM cable (indoor Romex).  These cables are far too stiff to be used for cords.  They cause tripping hazards because they don't lay flat, and they will break from the constant flexing.  They will also break down and discolor in sunlight, even the UF cable.Plus you just look like an idiot to anyone who sees it.  Sorry, but that's the truth.A proper cord is not that much, and welding machines can use smaller gauges than you might at first think, but we don't yet KNOW the current draw of the machine.  As mentioned, voltage is not the important number here.
Reply:I run 6 AWG for my drop.  It's braided wire made for flexability.  Works day in day out.  Lighter might work, but I chose the heavier wire.  It has sheathing made to withstand abrasion and UV.  Voltage drop is probably minimal.Spend the money.  You'll be happier.Mac, and Ed are good at this stuff, it's what they do.  Worth listening to."Any day above ground is a good day"http://www.farmersamm.com/
Reply:I use 8 ga SOOJ or SOOW (I forget which) for my 220v extension cords on the truck.MM350P/Python/Q300MM175/Q300DialarcHFHTP MIG200PowCon300SMHypertherm380ThermalArc185Purox oaF350CrewCab4x4LoadNGo utilitybedBobcat250XMT304/Optima/SpoolmaticSuitcase12RC/Q300Suitcase8RC/Q400Passport/Q300Smith op
Reply:Would 8 gauge work for a dedicated outlet?  With no problems?
Reply:Originally Posted by 99trxriderWould 8 gauge work for a dedicated outlet?  With no problems?
Reply:My hobart 180 Mig draws 19.5 Amps and ran on 12G until the extra 10/2w gnd came around. Now I have a yellow jacket extension cord from lowes for 72.00 100' 10 GA. after cutting the ends off and buying the plugs it's at 100.00 and thats cheap considering the elect supply wanted 1.60 ft for extension cord wire wow!!!!works really good and no more tripping on the damn wires and the jacket is almost indestructible this is definitely the way to go. and I have made pigtails for dryer plug to nema 6-50 and the old big stove plugs also now I can run my CH 60 Gal. compressor,plasma and mig almost anywhere, as the plasma has my 12 Ga. yellow jacket on the 110 side for roofing tin most of the time it's on 16 Amps....and my lincoln buzz box A/C 225 has like 10' of #4 on it big draw on the old thing better safe than sorry... especially when welding and it's 110 degrees all your wire ratings are good under like 90 or something like that... so you are pushing it with the smallest wire you can when its hot the wires can't cool off properly they actually get hotter get a yellow cord it runs cooler...... just my thoughtsLincoln 225 Tombstone,Miller Big 20,Hobart 180,150' Argon,A/D hobart hood 22 Ton Log splitter,79 F350 dump eats 4.75 TONS and still turns cutters,grinders,And a  Hypertherm POWERMAX 30
Reply:Tony D, if you're using the yellow jacket 100' cord that Lowe's and Home Depot sell with 125v twist-lock plug ends on it, to run your 220v 180 mig, you're using the wrong cord.   That cord is made for 125 volt 20 amp duty.  You're increasing it's load by 2 running it in a 250 volt 20 amp application.   You need to go buy the black 300v SO cord they sell in bulk lengths if you want to run 250v service through it.MM350P/Python/Q300MM175/Q300DialarcHFHTP MIG200PowCon300SMHypertherm380ThermalArc185Purox oaF350CrewCab4x4LoadNGo utilitybedBobcat250XMT304/Optima/SpoolmaticSuitcase12RC/Q300Suitcase8RC/Q400Passport/Q300Smith op
Reply:I have one of older welders and it would get hot and over heat. A friend of mine is an electrition and he brought his cable that he made that 4g and wired it in on my panel and ran it out to my welder and it worked fine never over heated i welded for about an hour and never had to stop with my lighter wire that i have i get about 30 min and then i have to let it cool down.. Thats why i would go bigger and bigger is sometimes better.