Electrode Storage
Thread Starter
|
Elder User
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 800
Likes: 0
From: Ontario, canada
Electrode Storage
The wife dragged me to an auction sale this weekend..... Now I am the proud owner of a slightly used Lincoln Buzzbox welder
Since my woorkshop is unheated and fairly damp, i'm looking for some ideas on storing electrodes so that they stay dry and usable. I've seen an old refrigerator used with the light rigged up to stay on inside, but that was in a commercal welding shop, and would be a bit too big for me.
One idea I had was to use an old cooler to keep them in. I'm not sure id that would keep them dry over a period of time.
Another idea i had was to make a sort of electrode oven using an old freon tank. I was thinking of cutting one end off and either makinbg it into a door, or fabricating a new door, then build a few shelves inside with some sort of grating, and finally putting a lightbulb inside either controlled by a thermostat or a timer( i have a bunch of these lying around from old refrigeration equipment)
Any other ideas/ suggestions??
Since my woorkshop is unheated and fairly damp, i'm looking for some ideas on storing electrodes so that they stay dry and usable. I've seen an old refrigerator used with the light rigged up to stay on inside, but that was in a commercal welding shop, and would be a bit too big for me.
One idea I had was to use an old cooler to keep them in. I'm not sure id that would keep them dry over a period of time.
Another idea i had was to make a sort of electrode oven using an old freon tank. I was thinking of cutting one end off and either makinbg it into a door, or fabricating a new door, then build a few shelves inside with some sort of grating, and finally putting a lightbulb inside either controlled by a thermostat or a timer( i have a bunch of these lying around from old refrigeration equipment)
Any other ideas/ suggestions??
Senior User
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 439
Likes: 0
From: Burnsville, MN
Electrode Storage
Any airtight container with silica-gel should work. Just remember to recycle the silica-gel periodically.
By recycle, I mean that you can dry silica gel in you oven so it can be reused. I can't remmber what temp and time though.
By recycle, I mean that you can dry silica gel in you oven so it can be reused. I can't remmber what temp and time though.
Junior User
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 50
Likes: 1
From: new mexico
Electrode Storage
I worked as a welder on several power plants, our rod boxes were nothing more than 3/8 plywood lined with foil inside, and a 100 watt light bulb, dont buy any more rod than you can use in a month and only take out what you need, any of the lo/high rods begin with a 70, 80, or 90 are espicilly susceptable to moisture warm with torch first, the penetrating rods start wth a 60, the flux degrades pretty quickly, again heat with a torch before using, if any show a powdery residure through em away, thats oxidation that will be in your weld,
Thread Starter
|
Elder User
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 800
Likes: 0
From: Ontario, canada
Electrode Storage
Originally posted by rwr
[B]I worked as a welder on several power plants, our rod boxes were nothing more than 3/8 plywood lined with foil inside, and a 100 watt light bulb, dont buy any more rod than you can use in a month B]
[B]I worked as a welder on several power plants, our rod boxes were nothing more than 3/8 plywood lined with foil inside, and a 100 watt light bulb, dont buy any more rod than you can use in a month B]
I think i'll try that . I have lots of plywood lying around , and some sheet aluminum flashing to line it with. Problem is that a 5 lb box of rods will certainly last me for more than a month, and i'd like to have a couple of different varieties around.
Trending Topics
Junior User
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 50
Likes: 1
From: new mexico
Electrode Storage
go to a welder supply they will sell you rod by the lbs. makes a lot easier to keep several in your box, the only rod i dont keep is ni-cor which is used to weld cast iron only by that you need it
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
10 Things Every Truck Owner NEEDS (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalyptic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer
Joe Kucinski
2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)
Brett Foote
Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies
Joe Kucinski
AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make
Brett Foote
Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!
Michael S. Palmer
Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home
Verdad Gallardo
10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!
Joe Kucinski
Junior User
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 86
Likes: 0
In my old shop, I kept electrodes in one of the plastic boxes with a "snap on" top, on a shelf and not on the concrete floor. On top of the woodstove in the shop, I had an approx. 12'' length of 4" I-beam. In the wintertime I would start up the stove and place a handful of the rod of choice onto the I-beam to drive any moisture out of it before I started welding, of course the rods got fairly warm, but I was wearing my gloves whenever a fresh rod was needed... it seemed to work quite well.
Tuned
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 483
Likes: 1
Depending on the type electrodes are stored differently. 7018 is the only common one that most guys here would every likely use that is to be stored heated, his is for the DC versions mainly, and its ideal storage condition is at 300F, in a rod oven. If you have an AC buzz box your common rods will be 6011 or 6013, maybe 7014 or 7018AC and these do not get heated storage although if it is super damp a box with a light bulb would work,,, but even better is just to keep the supply in your house somewhere. Put the box under a bed somewhere or in a closet is fine. The 7018 AC rods work really smooth on that machine, both Hobart and Lincoln make them, I believe Lincolns number is LH73 and the Hobart I am not sure but lists them as 7018AC. They sell them at Tractor Supply under the Weldit brand name.
FTE Legend
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 53,997
Likes: 2,399
From: NY and VA
I've used PVC pipe and caps , also the Chem lab in HS was throwing out metal containers that test tubes came in, they work well. How about the metal canisters that some booze bottles come in...of course you don't have to empty the bottle contents before using the canister...
Junior User
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 87
Likes: 0
From: Claresholm, Alberta
If you've got an AC buzz box, you won't need to heat your rods (6011,6010,7014 etc) I just spend the 7 bucks and buy the plastic container from the welding supply store that has a gasket on it. It keeps 5 lbs of rod dry for about two months.
Chris
Alberta
Chris
Alberta
