7018's

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Hello everyone, new here, and learning AC stick, & O/A. I use mainly 6011's and 6013's. I have some 7018's that I am afraid to open since I don't have a rod oven. Here's my question: I am planning to put the 7018's in an airtight container with a big Silica Gel box made for gun safes. Then, when it's time to use some, I want to bake them in a regular oven(when the wife is not home of course). Additionally, I live in the desert, and it is dry here most of the year.So will this work? How do you guys deal with 7018's?Thanks, Big B in the Arizona Desert.
Reply:Since I don't do all that much stick, I just go buy new small boxes when I need it and usually just figure to write off any extras. I keep the extras in a sealed tube, but usually only use them to help new guys learn, help set the machine for the job, or just do small POS stuff. Anything that might be remotely critical just gets a new box. Usually I keep 6010, and 7014 on hand since they don't have storage issues like the 7018's do. Almost anything I'd do with stick, I can do with 7014 if I don't have time to go get a box of 7018..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:Living in the desert ? Just by 5 or 10 #s at a time and keep it in rod tubes. Inless you're doing code work you'll be ok.Tough as nails and damn near as smart
Reply:Always buy good quality name brand 7018.Always buy small packages like 5 lbs at a time if you don't have an oven.Keep the unused rods in an air tight storage container and you'll be just fine.JasonLincoln Idealarc 250 stick/tigThermal Dynamics Cutmaster 52Miller Bobcat 250Torchmate CNC tableThermal Arc Hefty 2Ironworkers Local 720
Reply:Thanks for the replies, one more thing, I got a bunch of 7018's that were stored in a outdoor building for a couple years. They are packaged in their original plastic bags which are folded over then slid into boxes  for retail. I was afraid after being out there for so long I would need to bake them. The guy I got them from has hundreds of pounds which he is selling cheap.
Reply:If your stick welder is AC only your gonna have some frustration getting the 7018 to weld unless it's 7018AC rod.                                JMHO,                                          MikeOl' Stonebreaker  "Experience is the name everyone gives to their mistakes"Hobart G-213 portableMiller 175 migMiller thunderbolt ac/dc stick Victor O/A setupMakita chop saw
Reply:Originally Posted by bigbThanks for the replies, one more thing, I got a bunch of 7018's that were stored in a outdoor building for a couple years. They are packaged in their original plastic bags which are folded over then slid into boxes  for retail. I was afraid after being out there for so long I would need to bake them. The guy I got them from has hundreds of pounds which he is selling cheap.
Reply:Originally Posted by weldbeadso h ow do they work?
Reply:I got some old 7018 that had been stored in cardboard containers in a warehouse for years.  They ran great, no problems.  I was surprised.  I used them for welding general non-life-threatening stuff.MM350P/Python/Q300MM175/Q300DialarcHFHTP MIG200PowCon300SMHypertherm380ThermalArc185Purox oaF350CrewCab4x4LoadNGo utilitybedBobcat250XMT304/Optima/SpoolmaticSuitcase12RC/Q300Suitcase8RC/Q400Passport/Q300Smith op
Reply:Originally Posted by mla2ofusIf your stick welder is AC only your gonna have some frustration getting the 7018 to weld unless it's 7018AC rod.                                JMHO,                                          Mike
Reply:Originally Posted by tresiThis is one big misconception. He may have problems if he has a basic AC buzz box. On an industrial size welder or engine drive 7018 will run just fine. Buzz boxes will run on voltage and current commonly found in households at the cost of low arc voltage. 7018AC should be refered to as 7018LV and is by at least one rod manufacture. The LV standing for low voltage
Reply:i bought some 7018ac just to try it out. i saw the difference between ac and dc, and actually like ac . the sound is different.you can also burn ac rods on dc just fine
Reply:Originally Posted by tresiThis is one big misconception. He may have problems if he has a basic AC buzz box. On an industrial size welder or engine drive 7018 will run just fine. Buzz boxes will run on voltage and current commonly found in households at the cost of low arc voltage. 7018AC should be refered to as 7018LV and is by at least one rod manufacture. The LV standing for low voltage
Reply:Restrike on AC 7018 is a dream  No pounding the flux off the tip of the rod to get to bare metal like on a DC rod.It's the bomb for a lot of repeated short welds"Any day above ground is a good day"http://www.farmersamm.com/
Reply:Big B,  The moisture/humidity in AZ is pretty low, and that is why the 7018 really isn't that bad. Yes if you stay with getting 5lbs at a time you should have no problem. If you have a large amount of LO-HI in the past I have stored them in an old refrigerator with just a coulpe of light bulbs. If you can't get your hands on a refregerator build a wooden box to hold all of your wire and hook it up with two regular household light bulbs, the heat from the bulbs and be closed in the box will keep the electrodes dry.Weldor/ Certified Inspector
Reply:I've run Excalibur and Atom Arc 7018 both on my AC225 with no problems at all. I too live in the desert and 7018 will keep for a long time just by keeping it sealed up. I wouldn't use it for code work but it is fine for most everything else. Many carry it on their rigs exposed for a few days at a time and have no problems. I use rod tubes (used to be in New Orleans and still had no problems as long as I used the tubes) though I did have a small oven and kept cooked rods for the stuff that needed it. Lenco has a small portable for a reasonable price and I have had mine for 3 years or so with no problems. It just depends on what you want to do with it.Last edited by Jolly Roger; 11-28-2009 at 03:42 PM.Reason: additional infoThe difference between art and craft is the quality of the workmanship. I am an artist.
Reply:I weld with 7018 on board ship all the time and we don't have a rod oven. For anything non critical you will be fine. If you have trouble with your starts due to moisture, jack up your amperage 15-20 amps and go from there. After you have ran a couple inches, the rod will be baked out.We keep our rods in an old milk cooler with a 150 watt bulb for heat. Contrary to my co-workers belief, this is not a rod oven and only gives people the sense of storing them properly.Richard TerryMarine engineer.............  C'mon retirement!