Rod Storage?

W6PUG

W6PUG

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Moved to the PNW from the CA desert, and I had forgotten about welding rod absorbing moisture until I was starting to set up my welding table. I grew up in MO/IA and on the farm we used to store rod in old refrig with lightbulb inside ... not sure if that is "normal" or not, or if we just convinced ourselves it worked ... anybody have any better ideas about rod storage in high humidity environments? Rod ovens are expensive and are not really for storage as much as trying to dry out/salvage rod ....I just need to store small qualities of rod between uses .... right now it is 48 degrees outside and 95% humidity ... go figger.
Thoughts? I appreciate any experience you might have! Take care and thanks in advance. ddj
 
I use a old refrigerator for rod storage and it works fine . I put a lamp base inside and an oven bulb in the socket . I check every now and then to see the bulb is working the rods stay nice and tostie.
 
You guys must have a lot more rod than I do! I use a refrigerator too, for Beer , and its freezer for Chocolate. But then I live in relatively dry Colorado and don't have this problem.

IMG_4130.JPG
 
Thanks ... I guess simple is better ... so that is what I will do ... I will find one of those small refrigs and stick a 50w bulb in it. Thanks .... doug
 
What I have done to control moisture in welding rods, I made a series of tubes out of pcv pipe. I glued a cap on one end and used a adapter and screw plug for the other. I placed a small light bulb in the cap to control moisture. The size of the tube can be made any size that will fit your needs. I also use these to store TiG wire to keep them from getting dirty. You can easley mount on wall to keep out of the way.
 
Unless you have a ton of rod, how about just an air-tight container and a desiccant pack? It would bug me to know I was using the electricity on a light bulb for the amount of welding I do.
 
Are we talking plain old arc welding(SMAW) rods, short and chemical coated?
Or TIG / oxy-acetylene rod that are long plain steel (with thin copper coat) that also tend to get rust spots if too old?

I suspect you mean the first type as you say "absorb moisture".
For that I use a storage container made for that very purpose, like this:
http://www.harborfreight.com/catalogsearch/result?q=rod+keeper

Also I made some using common plastic plumbing parts, the removable end is a screw off drain clean-out with gasket.
1.jpg 2.jpg 3.jpg

I try to get them into one of these as soon as they come out of the sealed package from the store.

-brino
 
Guys - GREAT ideas .. I had not thought about PVC at all .. could even use large diameter pipe with ends, and put smaller size tubes inside for the 4 rods I basically use ... and could even put heater bulb in the big tube ... and had not even THOUGHT about a desiccant but of course that makes sense. Brino, you are right: 6011, 6013, 7014, 7018 is what I use most. Thank you guys for some great ideas ... I will dork around with them and come up with something and post what the end result is .... I really appreciate you guys taking time to respond to this ... it seems simple, and I guess it is, but I am a hobby shop and don't go through a lot of rod so when I buy it, I hate to throw away something 3 months later.
Again - thank you !! doug
 
You might try ebay. They have some old dogs of ones listed around $60 including freight. Living in Oregon, I know what you are up against. Fortunately, I use Mig most of the time.

Another thing you might try is a couple of short pieces of metal ducting--say 12" diameter and 8" in diameter. Fill the void in between with insulation and make a cover with a light bulb in it. I did this a long time ago and it worked quite well.

Jim
 
buddy3223 said:
What I have done to control moisture in welding rods, I made a series of tubes out of pcv pipe. I glued a cap on one end and used a adapter and screw plug for the other. I placed a small light bulb in the cap to control moisture. The size of the tube can be made any size that will fit your needs. I also use these to store TiG wire to keep them from getting dirty. You can easley mount on wall to keep out of the way.
Click to expand...
Would you mind sending me a pix of what you did? I went back and re-read some of these and yours jumped out at me again ... thanks in advance ... sorry to be a pain, but liked your idea ... doug
 
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