[TheForge] extension chord

[Gladish Family]

> With a too-thin electrical cord, you could easily soften or melt the
> insulation.  Then the two leads short together and you've got an arc
> where you don't want it.  Now, if you're welding nearby ANYWAY, that may
> never cause a problem.  But if that arc just happens to occur near
> something flamable that you forgot was there, oops!
>
> I prefer the idea of using extension cords in parallel (tho I see
> drawbacks to that too) to using undersized conductors.

Fat 3-conductor cable just isn't that expensive compared to having a
meltdown. What does 20' of #6 cost- ten bucks? Less than an extension cord?
I had a volunteer welder, using my buzz box, catch enough amps to stun him
at a DIY workshop last spring (bare spot on welding lead)- how expensive
would it have been if he'd been hurt? More than ten bucks, I bet...
BTW, multiple small conductors don't equal one large one...has to do with
how current behaves.
Andy g.