Currently have my welder (Shopmaster 300) behind the house and keep it covered with a tarp when not in use. Not ideal - but was OK back during the summer when it was hot and seldom rained. Not worth a durn now... Want 'real' electricity in my workshop, however the local power co wants *two grand* to hook it up because it is not a dwelling. Would only be $200 if it was a house as no line extensions are involved. Intermediary pole on the line to our house is literally 30 feet from the corner of my shop.
Can get enough #2 aluminum URD for about $400 (if the county will let me switch gears since I already permitted this.) Have checked my welder with a clamp on amp meter and welding what I currently need to weld again was pulling 38 amps. #2 aluminum is rated 75 amps and according to an on-line calculator at 240 volts, 350 feet and 40 amps the voltage drop would be 8.2 volts or 3.43%.
Does this sound reasonable for an old transformer style machine?