Welding Rod Protection from Moisture

[Kenskip1]

OK, so I now in the "Stick Welding game" After doing some reading, it appears that keeping the welding rods dry is not a bad idea. So I purchased about 30 inches of 2 inch PVC pipe and 4 end caps.With my trusty sawzall cut the PVC into 13 inch lengths.I taped one end on but this was not really required as the ends fit very tightly.The other end took some sandpaper to the end and removed a small amount of the pipe allowing easier removal of the end caps. Hope this helps somebody, Ken

 

[Floridaboy]

That will work great if you’re a mobile welder from spot to spot. in my shop I use a rod box/oven or if I do not have a Rado then I’m in the field I just lay the can up on the exhaust of the machine I’m working with and have it keep moisture out of them while I’m working.


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[sberry]

Some rods store hot, some don't.

 

[bczygan]

Some rods store hot, some don't.

Which are which?

Bill

 

[MrGiggles]

Which are which?

Bill

7018 and other low-hydrogen rods are very sensitive to moisture. If you're just a DIY'er you can get by storing them with something like the OP made.

Most other common rods (6011, 6013, etc.) do not need an oven, but they all can benefit from being stored dry.

 

[readhead]

It's not about hot, it's about dry. When we would go out to field jobs the guys would load rod cylinders and mark them #1, #2 and #3. Once that cylinder is opened it is only "good" for four hours. The cylinders, procedures and documentation would be presented to the job superintendent and inspector when they arrived and work would start. At the end of the day all the unused rod goes back in the oven and gets loaded up the next day. Of course all that monkey motion is not required on most jobs but we did make it a habit of keeping the 7018 dry for all jobs.

 

[bob15]

Which are which?

Bill

7018 and other low-hydrogen rods are very sensitive to moisture. If you're just a DIY'er you can get by storing them with something like the OP made.

Most other common rods (6011, 6013, etc.) do not need an oven, but they all can benefit from being stored dry.

Mr giggles is correct.

Here is what the experts say: http://www.lincolnelectric.com/en-us/support/welding-how-to/pages/storing-electrodes-detail.aspx

 

[Jamie V]

I remember my grandfather keeping his rods stored in a large roaster oven.

 

[bob15]

I prefer these air tight containers for rod storage: http://www.rodguard.net/

These are also very nice and can be gotten on e-bay cheap enough. I use one for 7018 rod. http://www.keenovens.com/products/k-50.htm

The Keen ovens also don't take up nearly the amount of room an old fridges takes up

 

[ineedtools]

A goodwill $10 toaster oven is great for drying them out. If they're too far gone the the flux will fall off in chunks when you take them out!

My recipe is 200ish for half hour and then I just pull them out as needed.

Took about a month of weekend visits carrying a rod into goodwills and salvation army to find the right toaster oven. Sure I could of splurged on a fancy new one for $50 but I like giving things a second life because I'm a cheap sob[emoji3]

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[Mick56]

I had a tin box I stored mine in, with a night light bulb inside that was on all the time. Kept them warm and dry.

 

[wkndwarrior29]

I prefer these air tight containers for rod storage: http://www.rodguard.net/

These are also very nice and can be gotten on e-bay cheap enough. I use one for 7018 rod. http://www.keenovens.com/products/k-50.htm

The Keen ovens also don't take up nearly the amount of room an old fridges takes up

I was recently at an estate sale where there was an antique refridgerator full of weld rod, bone dry. It sold for $2, the guy that bought it was regretful while trying to figure out how he was going to get it to his truck.

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[Lelandwelds]

You can switch most welding to Er70S-6 and forget the oven if you weld enough to keep ahead of rust. Even dual shield handles poor storage better than E##18.

Not to invite flames but hydrogen embridlement isn't as prone to earthshattering failure as people say. E##18 strength is still about 50kpsi. Truth is 30 min exposure @80% humidity will not test OK. The little 10lb and 50lb rod boxes aren't even plugged in on the rare job that requires them.

A bit of extra built in safety can help overcome poor workmanship.

 

[sberry]

I agree, simple common welding seems to work anyway. I have worked where we had ovens. On a nuke we want to a trailer, they took them from a big oven and put them into a small one we carried and plugged in. They actually did check them to make sure they were hot.

 

[GaryM909]

I agree, simple common welding seems to work anyway. I have worked where we had ovens. On a nuke we want to a trailer, they took them from a big oven and put them into a small one we carried and plugged in. They actually did check them to make sure they were hot.

Same on most jobs up here. Non compliance is usually dismissal.
The stuff I do at home I don't worry about. Rods come straight out of the box and stay that way until finished

 

[sberry]

I also agree wire is super good, storage is not aproblem.

 

[brownbagg]

a non hydrogen rod is any rod that ends in 5,6 or 8 aka 7018.
when ever i buy 50 lbs of 7018, after i break the seal I will vaccum pack in sets of twenty for my home use.

and no I did not stay in a holiday inn, i am a cwi as trade