Can I use a 115v 26 amp welder on a regular outlet?

As long as the wiring and the breakers are at least 30 amp you should be okay. Don’t try to use it in a 20 amp circuit. If in doubt have someone come in and test the circuits, or just put in a new one for the welder.

A little effort and money spent up front may save you from burning down your garage and possibly your house.

Damn, I’m just 19 lol, can’t pay an electrician to do all that, oh well :(

Don’t they make step up transformers that would work?

@XOIIO you could do it yourself and just have an inspector come in and approve the wiring.

@WestRiverrat true, although I’d have to run it from my house, and my mother would have to take a break from her paranoia lol. (I have half the garage and go there when I need to work on stuff), not really an option, oh well

No such thing as a step-up that will do what you need, you need the right wires in the wall for that amount of current.

Wait. don’t panic . It seems strange to me that the welder would be labelled 26 Amp. That might be the rating of the current delivered to the workpiece not the current from the wall socket. If the welder comes with a “normal” plug, it will most likely fit and work with house current. Read on the back of the welder where the wire goes into he box. It might say 115V 10 Amps. or something like that . The welder itself is a transformer that supplies high current at low voltage. Remember, Power (Watts) is Volts x Amps. Your house breakers are likely 15 amps or 20 amps at 110 Volts so 1650 Watts. The welder might be supplying 26 amps at only 20 volts so less than 500 Watts.

If this is one of this small MIG welders it will probably work. But read the requirement on the back of the box to make sure.
I just found this welder it says it is 135 AMP but it only requires 20 amp, 110Volt service

@LuckyGuy No, it’s definitely 26 amp input, I asked the guy and it has a weird shaped plug too.

The weird shaped connector is your sign that it won’t work with “regular” house wiring. It prevents you from popping the breakers or, if a breaker fails, setting your house on fire.

Do you have 220V, 30 Amp or 50 amp service available? Like for an electric dryer or hot water heater?

Plugs and receptacles have different layouts (shapes) that denote what current and voltage they are intended for. You can find charts online.

A 30A 115V circuit would be rare to find.

What is the make and model of the welder? Mig, Tig, or stick?

Some small welders are dual voltage. They can be used on either 115 or 230 by either switching a switch, or making a couple wire switches at the input.

@LuckyGuy Only in the carpeted basement :/

Anyways I told the guy it wouldn’t work out.

Next step, figure out how much juice is actually available in the garage where you’d rather work, then look for a welder with that in mind. Count up the other sorts of power tools you might use at the same time, and lights (and a heater in the winter?)
Being resourceful you might get it all to fly without harm.
Sounds like fun !

What do you use for cutting?

@dabbler Yeah that’s the plan, and nothing yet, I’ve never even welded before lol, I figure ill treach myself like I did soldering and other things.

I took a course at TAFE here. And really it was not particularly enlightening. I think youtube and practice is a great way to learn.

Don’t do it on just a regular wall outlet, use it on atleast a 30 amp outlet, just to be safe.