arc welding rods... drying

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These days, I don't use my arc welder too much, but I have a good deal of rods in the container they came in... seems kinda air tight.   and I threw in a couple of those dessicant packs... my question:would it be ok to ocassionally put them in the home oven on .. say 100 degrees, dry them out.. then put them back in the case for storage?just wondering... thanks.Miller 211Hypertherm PM 451961 Lincoln Idealarc 250HTP 221  True Wisdom only comes from Pain.
Reply:I would think so. Personally, I would probably go with 200 deg. F. for about 1/2hr. - 1 hr. then turn the oven off, leaving the rods in the un-opened oven until the oven temp. gets down close to room temp. That way I'm not causing them to condensate."SOUTHPAW" A wise person learns from another persons mistakes;A smart person learns from their own mistakes;But, a stupid person.............never learns.
Reply:Lincoln recomends much higher temps that 100 deg for actually drying rods. For storage, maintaining them at 100-125 helps keep them dry. Not all rods need to be kept super dry, as long as they are not actually wet from water. Low hydrogen rods like 7018 and 7016 need to be kept "dry", but other rods like 7024, 7014, 6010/11 and 6013 can be stored with moderate care and last quite well. Usually keeping them in a sealed container with desicant is fine for most rods for general use. I always buy small boxes of new 7018 for critical projects, and just save the leftovers for practice and the occasional non critical repair. I usually tend to keep rods that are not so picky about storage for those times I can't just run out and get a box. I usually keep 7014 on hand for that, and 6010 for the stuff that I can't get cleaned well, like my plow in the snow and ice.Take a look at this PDF from Lincoln. Near the end, pg 53, it talks about rod drying and storage.http://content.lincolnelectric.com/p...ature/c210.pdf..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:what type of rod?
Reply:justin: you should be ok as long as your welding rod stays out of the weather. I've got some 70,80 and 9018 out in my shop in the round screw top tubes that have been out there since I retired 8 yrs ago, that I would'nt hesitate to use. and I have. as long as you inspect the rod before you use it, looking for "wet" marks like white or darkness of the flux you should be good to go. also take your thumb nail and press it into the flux to see if it is spungee. a little bit of moisture in the flux you would probably not even notice it. when you strike an arc, within 1or2 seconds the rod has been heated enough to be dried out.    revpol