Just curious about Max Amps

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Happened to glance at this 500 amp welder to see just how many input amps it said it needed on single phase 240 (says 100) http://lewiston.craigslist.org/hvd/4902657222.html and it got me wondering about maximum welding amps in a practical situation.Back during WW2 (and later) they hand (stick) welded the heavy armor plate for ships using some serious amperage and big rods..and lots of passes. I was curious what the maximum amperage you had ever seen or heard of on a hand controlled weld was.  IIRC, the biggest welder I have seen was 600 amps and that's gotta be like working with the fires of hell all day but I'm assuming that would still be small compared to some---Seen/used larger?  Comments on welding with that kind of energy?Not interested in automated--I know there are some monsters for that.  Just curious about hand controlled.
Reply:I've been on jobs welding precast concrete deck panels down. Run around 450-500-amps 10-hours a day. 70 plus pounds of wire a day.Don’t pay any attention to meI’m just a hobbyist!CarlDynasty 300V350-Pro w/pulseSG Spool gun1937 IdealArc-300PowerArc 200ST3 SA-200sVantage 400
Reply:Those high amperages are more likely to be used when carbon arc cutting and gouging. I used 3/16 rod at I think 260 amps to weld a catwalk/ bumper onto a huge linkbelt hoe last year and It was sweet. I needed to weld one big thick heavy pass around the whole top, I am guessing 80 lineal feet. The welder was a Hobart air pack 400 amp I believe.Nothing Ever Got Done By Quitting, Never Give Up.
Reply:Highest ive gone for production welding is 550 amps on a  kempi machine with 2mm (.080) solid   wire, with stick ive welded up to 400 amps with 8 mm (5/16") 7016 rods with a CIG engine drive
Reply:I've arc gouged at 550amps for a little bit....Stick welding, unless your welding over 1" plate all day long, you don't need over 250amps for 3/16" 7018....Just a couple welders, big hammers, grinders, and torches.Work will free you.Men in dirty jeans built this country, while men in clean suits have destroyed it. Trump/Carson 2016-2024
Reply:My welder goes up to 600 amps. I believe it requires a 70 or 80 amp breaker, but I have it on a 50 amp breaker. It's 3-phase, so a little more efficient. But I run 350 amps, 100% duty cycle welding thick aluminum. Never tripped a breaker. BTW, Miller's Dimension 1000 goes up to 1250 amps. I would LOVE to see an application that required that many amps. Would probably fry the operator!John 3:16(2) Miller Pheonix 456(2) Millermertic 252Dynasty 210DXHobart 210MVPDoringer D350 SA Cold SawScotchman 350LT Cold SawWebb 10x50 MillWebb 15x40 LatheGeka Bendicrop Ironworker
Reply:Originally Posted by EcondronMy welder goes up to 600 amps. I believe it requires a 70 or 80 amp breaker, but I have it on a 50 amp breaker. It's 3-phase, so a little more efficient. But I run 350 amps, 100% duty cycle welding thick aluminum. Never tripped a breaker. BTW, Miller's Dimension 1000 goes up to 1250 amps. I would LOVE to see an application that required that many amps. Would probably fry the operator!
Reply:1/4" 7018 at 325+ amps for stick. If you get into big wire you can run 5 or 600 amps.
Reply:Lincoln DC-1000 run twin 5/64 LA -75 /860 flux 900 amps all day long. Limited to 1000 amps D-1.5 bridge code.
Reply:Arc air gouging and sub arc welding.JasonLincoln Idealarc 250 stick/tigThermal Dynamics Cutmaster 52Miller Bobcat 250Torchmate CNC tableThermal Arc Hefty 2Ironworkers Local 720