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Thread: Conditioning Welding Sticks
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16th Oct 2008, 10:20 PM #1
Conditioning Welding Sticks
Hi,
After reading some of the threads here over the past few days, I've just bought one of the $100 Ozito 140 Amp units. I've seen some mention of heating the sticks in an oven for up to 2 hours and I'd like to know why. I suspect it is remove all traces of moisture to reduce arc spatter, is this correct and do I need to condition the sticks ?
I also spent some time reading an old, 2005, thread on welding techniques written by Graham and the link to Aussie Weld. Thanks Graham for the putting such detailed information in a thread.
Over the next few months I plan to build a logging arch and a ProCut style stationary chainsaw mill.
cheers
Derek
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16th Oct 2008, 11:32 PM #2
Yes Derek, you shouldn't have to heat new un-opened rods usually only rods that have been open for a while although it certainly won't hert to heat them just in case. Heated vacuum chamber is the best but most people just use a heat box or oven.
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17th Oct 2008, 01:00 AM #3
Most welding shops up here store the opened packets in an oven , during the wet season the humidity is very high .
The flux on the rods seems to absorb moisture like a sponge ,and will blow off the rod as it heats up during the welding process causing problems with weld quality .
The heat from a 100 watt light globe in the cupboard where you store your rods will work ok in a pinch.
Kev.
Kev."Outside of a dog a book is man's best friend ,inside a dog it's too dark to read"
Groucho Marx
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17th Oct 2008, 07:04 AM #4
For most of us storing the opened electrodes in a PVC plumbing pipe with caps on either end is sufficient.
Its only LH and stainless rods that suffer any real effect rods from moisture absorption.
The the home welder unless you are building pressure vessels or crane booms at home you will never notice it.They only need the oven treatment when really damp.
We are talking really wet electrodes here. To see the difference ,put one aside and wet it-dip it in water to let it soak in.
Weld with it and compare the difference. Trust me, the difference will be very noticeable.
My electrodes are stored as I describe above .Living in tropical, humid Mackay,I have never had to reheat them even the stainless ones.
Go to the hardware shop and spend a few bob on pipes and caps. Make the pipes about 25mm longer than your electrodes and you will have room to stick one of those little satchels of silica gel that come with some prescription medications under one of the caps.
Woodlee is right though about the Top End humidity, it is something else.
regards all
Grahame
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17th Oct 2008, 08:43 AM #5
Thanks for the feedback. I'm so looking forward to re-learning how to weld, it's been 30 years since I last welded - back when I was an apprentice in the RAAF. Its amazing, I look around at all the jobs I have put off because I needed something welded and didn't want to ask the BILs.
cheers
Derek
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17th Oct 2008, 05:14 PM #6
I have a hot water system in a little room off the laundry. Its ususally fairly warm inside so I put my electrodes in there to keep them nice and toasty
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17th Oct 2008, 05:23 PM #7
Last edited by Vernonv; 17th Oct 2008 at 05:24 PM. Reason: typo
Cheers.
Vernon.
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Bite off more than you can chew and then chew like crazy.
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17th Oct 2008, 08:03 PM #8Woodworking Product Reviews - Over 200+ Online
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19th Oct 2008, 11:04 PM #9Senior Member
- Join Date
- Oct 2003
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- Sydney,Australia
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- 174
Considering the price of PVC plumbing bits, just use a plastic pasta storage jar - they cost about the same as one end cap.
If you have a collection of those bags of silica gell that come in tool packaging, heat them gently in an oven for a few hours, then put them in the jar with the rods.
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29th Jul 2017, 10:33 PM #10Senior Member
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- Mar 2017
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- Brisbane
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I just got some 7018 rods to practice welding and now realise I should be storing them properly.
If I want to reheat them what temp do I need to go to? Will my home gas oven be sufficient or do they need like 350 to 400 degrees? Finding conflicting info on this.
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30th Jul 2017, 12:10 AM #11
Store them in some PVC plumbers pipe with slide on caps.
I use these in mackay and have no rouble
For damp electrodes- ( like if you forgot and left them unpacked in damp weather) Heat them at 100°C for an hr.
I have used the oven and heated them in alfoil. Only when she is out, or its dangerous to your health.
Grahame
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30th Jul 2017, 10:37 AM #12I use these in mackay and have no rouble
Dean
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30th Jul 2017, 11:19 AM #13Member: Blue and white apron brigade
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- Feb 2006
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I looked for plastic pasta containers to act as welding rod storage a few years back but they were all too short for the longer rods - especially as I like to put some bits of lead inside the bottom of the container so it doesn't tip over so easily.
I did find some pasta containers that were the long enough from a specialty kitchen goods store but they were glass and cost about $15.
For a while I used a plastic cereal container with the rods laying partially on their side (it was always tipping over (thats when I started putting lead inside the container, but then I found a local PVC supplier that sells 90 mm stormwater push-on endcaps for 85c, threaded couplers for $2 , and screw caps for $1.70 , all up about $5 a container.
I made up 3 PVC containers to suit 3 different length rods - here are two of them.
WeldRodCOntainer.jpg
The tubes are cut to length so the ends of the rods are very close to the top and there's no need to tip the container over to reach the rods.
I don't bother to screw them tight - half a turn seems to be enough to limit moisture absorption.
I wouldn't bother using screw caps as a cap - just a plain coupler (77c) with a plain end cap glued onto it.
Then just pulling off the coupler will expose the ends of the rods for even easier access.
I agree about those Silica Gel packs.
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2nd Aug 2017, 09:54 PM #14Novice
- Join Date
- May 2015
- Location
- Aus
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- 24
I use pvc with caps, also does a good job with tig filler rod.
For baking check out Storing and Redrying Electrodes