At the risk of answering for Kevin...

There are two things to consider...

1) Local building codes
2) Ultimate safety

Personally, I would encourage the "safe" route and provide for the dedicated ground that does not depend on conduit.

Yes, I have been in an environment where "ground" was still 115 vac above "ground".

Purely to keep things simple and the whole "Mobile" idea I am sticking to, I would prefer taking the extra 10 minutes to warm up a generator before welding. Lets me think over my plans a few times before the final arc <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" />. I have no problems wiring my garage, I just don't want the hassle. I used to wire houses for a living. I know the pain in the ass it becomes if the inspector finds something out of code and decides he wants to be a prick that day...

The cost of the generator to run that welder is way more that than the cost of the new electrical hook up IMO. Not to mention it's going to be the size of a Fridge <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/mrt.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/mrt.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/mrt.gif" alt="" />

Les, (How you been?), see FastEddy's post above.

An 8K genset isn't big, really, and is still portable. Between welds, it can power a window air unit or a heater, not to mention a (cheap) stereo and (old, ratty)refrigerator, just because.

John B.

Oh, I believe in redundancy.

When I bond a swimming pool, there's a bonding lug on the inside and the outside of the stainless light niche. I bond #6 bare solid copper from the outer lug to the rebar cage, and a green #6 stranded from the inner lug to the light junction box ground runner. The pool rebar cage is bonded to the steel motor sheel and then to the panel ground busbar. The handrail and grabrail anchors are likewise bonded to the pool rebar. NEC250-50-2.

I go to all this trouble because if the motor has a serious problem and puts current on the pool water via it's case, all metal at the pool will be at almost exactly the same voltage potential and there will be no current flow. Any minor variance is due to differing resistances in the various current paths.

And if you check the price of copper wire, it might NOT be cheaper to wire the garage....

my uncle (and cousin) are pro welders- have you ever seen the BIG portable welders? Ever notice how Big the generators are that run them?

I bought an old LincWelder last summer. It has an 18hp twin cylinder Wisconsin Engine. Welder is good for about 200 Amps. Downside - it is really loud and puts out an incredible amount of heat. Easy to heat your shop on a cold Wisconsin day. Oh and it weighs about 350 lbs.
I have it mounted on a HF 4 x 4 trailer now. Still sux to move around by hand. Should have bought a longer trailer.