Welder storage in unheated garage.

[Radio Flyer]

Some back story....

The city bought 4 houses on our block a few years ago for an infrastructure project. The previous owners took what they wanted and left the rest for trash. Local fire dept. used the houses for training, cut a bunch of holes, and left them for demo. One of the neighbors asked the city engineer if he could salvage some of the old kitchen cabinets for his garage. The engineer said they offer Habitat for Humanity first dibs on that type of thing, but when they are done it would be ok to salvage what's left. One of the garages had a broken spring on the door, and no one really tried to look in it. I helped a neighbor with the door. turns out there was some treasure in it. Hidden in the corner was a Lincoln SP-135 plus welder with a decent size tank on it. Neighbor said I could use a welder in my garage. I told him any little welding that I needed, I could do at work. Later that day, I found it outside my garage. Turns out I do use it a few times a year. Last time I moved it, I wiped it down and noticed rust forming on spool of wire.

And now the question...

Does anyone have tips on storing a welder in an unheated garage? I was thinking of spraying some Ballistoil on a few rags and laying them in the spool compartment when the welder is not in use. I'm just not sure if that is the best thing to do.

 

[Zeke]

Take the spool out for long term storage. If covered, the rest should be fine unless it's really damp in there. In that case I'd put in a sealed box with some desiccant.

BTW, any wire that has rust on it has to be tossed or used as tie wire.

 

[jack stand]

I've never seen bare mig wire.
The welder will be fine, just don't leave it in the rain.

 

[nadogail]

My stick electrodes don’t have a problem being stored in an unseated garage.

 

[GaryM909]

As Zeke recommended take the spool off when not using it. Rust is your worst enemy for clogging your liner and your contact tips. Store your wire in a dry place or wrap it with shrink wrap or something similar.

 

[whateg01]

I've never seen bare mig wire.
The welder will be fine, just don't leave it in the rain.

It'll still rust

 

[BillK]

My Miller 135 lives in my unheated detached garage. I have had it at least 10 years and probably only use it 4 or 5 times a year and have never had an issue. Pretty sure the wire has a coating on it. I have never seen it rust. Maybe cheap wire ??

 

[tarmy]

I have two welders…they both sit in unheated garages. I haven’t had any issues with either…no rust problems either.

 

[billspit]

Oddly enough, I have a Lincoln SP-100 mig welder that sits in my unheated garage. I noticed years ago that I had a little rust forming on the wire. On a few occasions the weather conditions were such that few formed inside my garage. I believe that is was caused my rust. I hate to throw the wire out because it’s a big spool.

 

[jack stand]

It'll still rust

I must be lucky then. I have old Lincoln's ac tombstones 30+ years old, no rust visible and work fine, hell my Miller 250x ?
Is over 20 years old and my primary machine. Same story with my hypertherm plasma.

 

[whateg01]

Jfc I should have said it "may" rust. Do I need to see if I still have the roll of MIG wire that is rusty to prove that it's possible for it to rust?

 

[Radio Flyer]

Of course it came with the jumbo size wire spool. I was thinking of pulling it off and storing it in the basement. I wondered if the feed rollers would rust up. Then considered bringing the whole welder in. Then flipped back to getting rid of it since its a convenience and not a need.

Analysis/paralysis is where I'm stalled now.

 

[rsanter]

Tempature should not effect it.
Long term storage dust can be bad so,if you don’t use it much I would look at a cover for it

If it appears really dirty I would blow it out really well before using.

I don’t really have issues with the wire rusting but then I use my MIG enough that’s a non issue plus my climate.
Rust on the MIG wore is a bad thing, they have a flash coat on them to help prevent rust but that only does so much.
If you don’t use the machine much then the pull the spool,of,wire and store is is a good idea. I would think you could also use some dissicant packs that you set inside the machine and then cover the machine for perhaps “medium” storage times

 

[iagsxr]

Some guys put spools in their shop fridge to keep them from rusting.

I've had trouble with wire rusting in my new shop which makes no sense because it's much more climate controlled than my old one.

 

[mmb617]

My Miller 135 lives in my unheated detached garage. I have had it at least 10 years and probably only use it 4 or 5 times a year and have never had an issue. Pretty sure the wire has a coating on it. I have never seen it rust. Maybe cheap wire ??

Pretty much what I'm thinking. My Lincoln 135 has been stored in an unheated garage for over 15 years. I don't use it a lot but I've never had any problems with it and I always leave whatever spool I used last on it. I didn't know that rust on welding wire was a thing.

 

[NUTTSGT]

It's not the temperature, it's the temperature swings that causes condensation.

Is your garage insulated ? That helps with controlling temp swings. The other suggestion is to put a fan out there on low speed and just let it run.

 

[imagineer]

I keep my 3 welders, Lincoln Weld-Pak 155 (setup for steel), Lincoln Weld-Pro 175 (with a spool gun set up for aluminum) and a Miller Diversion 165 TIG, in a drafty, unheated pole barn. The MIGs have been stored this way for about 20 years and the TIG for about 12 years. The welders seem to be holding up fine. In the spring, I take the cases off each to blow out any over-wintering bugs,

The spool of steel wire on the 155 will develop a bit of surface rust on the wire, but it's not been a problem so far. I use a wad of stainless steel wool, clamped with a binder clip on the weld wire (before the drive rolls) to clean off some of the rust.

 

[Bert_]

Welders have been kept in unheated shops since welders were invented. They work fine.

 

[Mas78]

Several years ago I went through having a spool of wire rust some. Talk about making a frustrating time trying to weld and then take a few layers of wire off the spool to get it working. These days I take the spool of wire off the welder in the winter time if I don't plan on using the welder for a week or more. I don't have rust issues in the summer its just the freeze thaw temperature swings here in Iowa that make the moisture condense really bad on metal in the shop.

 

[no704]

Wrap the spool with some shop rags with a little bit of kerosene on them. Just be sure to remove them before use.

 

[Jlarson]

We've had issues with tiny amounts of rust on mig wire when they sit in the job trailers or service trucks. But as long as they're used regularly hasn't really been a problem, we also run cleaner and lube pads on all our wire machines.

I know I've bought some used machines that sat for years and have had to toss the wire and sometimes replace liners.

 

[pbon]

It's not the temperature, it's the temperature swings that causes condensation.

Is your garage insulated ? That helps with controlling temp swings. The other suggestion is to put a fan out there on low speed and just let it run.

I think this is the main concern and heating the garage up or the using the machines will cause condensation when the machine cools. May take years or never cause a problem. I would not worry about occasional use but if frequent, the chance of a problem over time is greater.

 

[dougf]

Not to be 'that guy' but ive had wire in my welder for years and its never rusted. Do you store pool chemicals in your shop? Those have been known to offgas and make everything rust.

 

[pennsylvaniaboy]

solid....meh....I dont have issues with my welders in my garage...only heated when I'm in there. Which should be arguably even worse as I introduce moisture to the space with propane buddy heater...

 

[Radio Flyer]

I think this is the main concern and heating the garage up or the using the machines will cause condensation when the machine cools. May take years or never cause a problem. I would not worry about occasional use but if frequent, the chance of a problem over time is greater.

That's the real issue. Tons of condensation. I guess I didn't explain it that well.

Big temperature swings, occasional use of a propane heater, and no insulation.

 

[imagineer]

That's the real issue. Tons of condensation. I guess I didn't explain it that well.

Big temperature swings, occasional use of a propane heater, and no insulation.

After I insulated the underside of the roof in my pole barn, I found there was considerable condensation build up. Some days, it seemed to be raining inside the barn.

I added a powered gable vent fan (https://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200673792_200673792) and a humidity/temperature control (https://www.grainger.com/product/DAYTON-Attic-Fan-Thermostat-Humidistat-10N203) and that seems to have solved the problem.

I adjust it for summer and winter conditions.

I also added a cheap ceiling fan in the barn to keep the air inside moving. I leave the ceiling fan on low all the time, but when in there and running a wood stove, I'll speed it up to better circulate warmed air.

 

[dvblanch]

Wrap my spool with VCI paper purchased from Uline & secure w blue masking tape salt air in Fl will create rust on wire if infrequently used

 

[Renegade1LI]

If you notice almost every service truck has a welder, always outside.

 

[RumRiver5.0]

I keep my 211 in the garage, heat is at 35 degrees minimum year round. Before the heat, my tools would get rust.

 

[Firebrick43]

Oddly enough, I have a Lincoln SP-100 mig welder that sits in my unheated garage. I noticed years ago that I had a little rust forming on the wire. On a few occasions the weather conditions were such that few formed inside my garage. I believe that is was caused my rust. I hate to throw the wire out because it’s a big spool.

I hate to have a weld fail due to the rusty wire and someone get hurt. Buy small spools instead of large ones, easier to take out and store in a bag and if they do rust it hurts less than a bigger spool. Rusty wire makes **** welds.

 

[billspit]

I hate to have a weld fail due to the rusty wire and someone get hurt. Buy small spools instead of large ones, easier to take out and store in a bag and if they do rust it hurts less than a bigger spool. Rusty wire makes **** welds.

My welder came as a complete setup for Weldors Supply. It included that great big ole spoil of wire. I had no idea that it would rust. Consider me schooled.

 

[Jrad235]

That's the real issue. Tons of condensation. I guess I didn't explain it that well.

Big temperature swings, occasional use of a propane heater, and no insulation.

I had to build an insulated room inside my shop(2k sqft) to keep my tools from rusting due to condensation. The propane torpedo heaters put out SO MUCH moisture it would rain inside the shop.