Highest Amperage you've ever used at work

[WelderBoy]

The highest I have ever used has been 400+amps with the air-arc, and about 350 amps welding with 1/4" 7018, and around 350 with 1/16" wire but with the wire you can't say exactly, but I know it is in the 350 range.

But today on our jobsite we were sub-arcing a piece of 1.5" plate with 5/32 solid wire. I asked what they usually set it for and he said close to 1,000AMPS. HOLY HELL! The machine we use at work for this is a Dialarc 1,000. It welds up to 1200amps, and welds 1,000amps at 100% duty cycle.

I was very impressed at the disposition rate of this subarc machine on that plate. It moves 10 times quicker than I do when welding and shoves in about 100 times more wire. The wire was as thick as a pencil. Pretty cool stuff.

So let's hear it, I know there are some crazy welding processes out there, and I know some of you TIG pipeliners weld up to 700 amps on big thick pipe.

[tanky321]

This my friends is going to be a sweet thread!

[Hammack_Welding]

I've used around 400 or so once arc gouging, but actually welding I don't think I have ever gotten much over 310-315. Most usually around 250-285 on a frequent basis.

[lewray]

Originally Posted by tanky321

This my friends is going to be a sweet thread!

lol ...yep my thoughts exactly

[tanglediver]

130 amps. Vertical down on my cert. test plate, to repair undercut. WHAT? It's allowed!!
At work the machine we got says 1-6 hi & lo, what does that tell you, it's a 200 amp MM and I have never had it all the way up, even for practice.
Cutting, 30cfm and 5cfm standard torch cutting. D'OH!

[ABwelds]

I've gotten the Tig up to around 300, arc-air about 350-400, wire feed I've done to around 200 spray-arc... 250-300? stick I've done 150

[David R]

My machine will go up to 425, but I have never been there. I have a demand meter, so sometimes when I have the welder cranked up, I turn off the air compressor. My Ranger 250 will put out around 300 and I have had it there a few times. Usually its for wire feed. I gouge around 200 to 250. 3/16 7018 @ about 230.....5/32 7024 220 amps.......

David

[tanky321]

Heres some really impressive stuff, 3/4" X 36" Rods Who the hell knows what amperage.

Do some reading its really impressive.

http://hobartwelders.com/mboard/show...ight=big+welds

[weldrwomn]

I'v gone up to the 550 - 600 amp range with 7/64 flux cored wire. That is smokin' hot

[lewray]

Originally Posted by tanglediver

130 amps. Vertical down on my cert. test plate, to repair undercut. WHAT? It's allowed!!
At work the machine we got says 1-6 hi & lo, what does that tell you, it's a 200 amp MM and I have never had it all the way up, even for practice.
Cutting, 30cfm and 5cfm standard torch cutting. D'OH!

Thats crazy I have one of those...the MM 200 with high and low very old,but its a great machine. I had it cranked out yesterday (on high) at tap 6 using my friend's spool gun doing some spray xfer on some 3/8 plate just practicing. It was definately topped out hot.

I also have an old 3 phase AIRCO 250 or 300 cant remember; however , I never got passed 150 amps. The feeder is not working and broke before I could crank it up.

I always wondered what it was like to weld at 300 amps for hrs at a time. Im sure some folks on here could share some stories. Like the Navy yards and places like that where you can't do submerged arc in certain situations.



WELDRWOMN ... the fluxcore 7/64 up to 600 amps? what the shmell were you welding? Or better what were you WEARING a volcano suit ...

[lars66]

800 amps air arcing.

[tanglediver]

Originally Posted by lewray

Thats crazy I have one of those...the MM 200 with high and low very old,but its a great machine. I had it cranked out yesterday (on high) at tap 6 using my friend's spool gun doing some spray xfer on some 3/8 plate just practicing. It was definately topped out hot.

I usually keep this machine on the lo tap and run as much as 5 with regularity. Some very light duty sheet metal I will stitch together on lo 1. We do mostly trailer repair and light fabrication.

[enlpck]

400-600 air-arcing on occasion, odd times 250-300 with 7024, but usually below 150A for welding. Nature of the work.

[TozziWelding]

Over 400 amps arcairing, never over 250 amps daily.

[MicroZone]

Okay...

1 million jiggawatts ! ("Back to the Future" ref.)

Just a good day and wanted to post.

[TozziWelding]

I just remembered, we had a 1200 amp spot welder in school, that baby would do 2 pieces of 1/4". Why it was in a high school metal shop is still a mystery to this day.

[Supe]

2" thick steel on the CNC plasma. We've got tandem power supplies for it...

[WelderBoy]

Originally Posted by TozziWelding

Why it was in a high school metal shop is still a mystery to this day.

Donation?

[zapster]

250 D.C.
310 A.C.

...zap!

[PatrickJ]

Gouging - 550 Amps on old Lincoln Idealarcs.

450 Amps w/400 in/min wire feed speed with NR-305 wire, either 5/64" or 3/32", I don't remember which. This was yesterday, my first day actually doing structural welding, as I was inside a sidebox of a barge that was laid on it's side.

BTW, 94 degrees, 90% humidity inside a confined area running 15' long beads with that hot a wire while wearing leathers absolutely sucked, especially the two hours before they found me a fan. Then they tell me I don't need to wear leathers while flat welding, that would've been nice to know when I got there. But they did give us two extra breaks when they brought everyone popsicles.

[WelderBoy]

Originally Posted by PatrickJ

BTW, 94 degrees, 90% humidity inside a confined area running 15' long beads with that hot a wire while wearing leathers absolutely sucked, especially the two hours before they found me a fan.

Welcome to the wild world of ship building! Get used to it

[12,000 Doors]

I think it was around 300 burning some 1/4 7018s on some thick "I" beams. Been a long time and all I remember is that the spatter was so hot that it ignited part of my hair.

[billniece]

Somewhere in the neighborhood of 450-485 gouging w/ a 3/8" rod and 225 using 7018 on 1/2" plate. Also around 300-350 using some P-5 hotrodding hex stainless.

[KRS]

20 amps (less is more!).











just kidding guys! Off to go trail riding on the KLR650!

[enlpck]

Originally Posted by PatrickJ

BTW, 94 degrees, 90% humidity inside a confined area running 15' long beads with that hot a wire while wearing leathers absolutely sucked, especially the two hours before they found me a fan. Then they tell me I don't need to wear leathers while flat welding, that would've been nice to know when I got there. But they did give us two extra breaks when they brought everyone popsicles.

Had one like that (briefly) a few years ago. Had to break 10 min each hour and drink water until you pee. Couldn't go back on until peeing.