7018 rod storage.

admin

Hi all I recently joined. I will have alot of questions as I am new to welding. Right now I am concerned about how I should store my 7018 electrodes. I will be useing the 7018 AC rods. I have done some homework on this and understand that by proper standards they must be stored at 250 degrees after being opened from the can. Now I am not doing any code work this is for farm equipment repairs and fab work nothing commercially all my own equipment. Since I am not burning these rods daily is there a way for me to maintain them well enough for my own use? I am considering buying a small 10 pound 275 degree oven and I have good rod storage containers.  My first bit of 7018s were 5 pounds in a cardboard box not sealed in a tin box. My theory has been to buy them and promptly store them in the sealed rod containers and bake them for a few hours before every use at 275 would this be acceptable for my application? Of course I don't have the means to restore them at the 700 or so degrees so this is the best I can think of aside from leaveing an oven on all the time which I will do if I have to.  Sorry for the long post I am just wanting to get some advice and needed to describe my usage of these electrodes. Thanks for any help.J.I. CASE man til the end of Time..  GE "AC" machine ---- Smith Torch/regulators ----  Harris Portable Torch ----- Makita 4" Grinder ----- Makita Chop Saw
Reply:what you're proposing should work just fine.  baking before use will reduce the chances of porosity at the arc start, which is the major concern.  I think hot E7018 rods burn smoother and more evenly than cold ones; but that might be my imagination too.Benson's Mobile Welding - Dayton, OH metro area - AWS Certified Welding Inspector
Reply:Your best bet is to just stick with small boxes that you open when needed. Running a rod oven, even a small one will probably not be cost efective unless you use rods on a regular basis. The cost of the electric will probably exceed what a new box of rods would cost after a moderate length of time.I store any leftover rods in an o-ring sealed rod tube, but usually use these rods to help set the amps on the machine, or to do small POS stuff where cracks and such might not matter, small brackets, patching holes in the dump truck floor, mower repairs, jigs, letting guys learn and practice etc.Because I don't use stick all that much, I usually just buy small quantities of 7018 for specific jobs and write off what ever is left as just part of costs. For example I know we need to fix a cracked sub floor cross member in the dump truck some time next week. We spotted the crack yesterday cleaning the body. I'll just buy a small box of 7018 to do the job. I keep rods that don't have as big a storage problems like 6010, 7014, 7024 for those emergency occasions when grabbing new rods is not and option and I have to do stick. (fix the plow in bad weather is usually the big one.).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:welcomefor the work you are doing no reason it cant be done with a mix of 6011 and 7014..no storage problems with either..
Reply:>>I store any leftover rods in an o-ring sealed rod tube<<I bought a couple of these, here's some details.http://www.fastenal.com/web/products.ex?N=999601018Regards to all.Working on cars and bikes is my hobby, learning to weld the pieces together is my quest.
Reply:Thanks for the response guys I really do appriciate it. Yes I have wondered about 7014 never thought of useing it with the 6011s I should have thought about that. Useing the 6011s for root passes.J.I. CASE man til the end of Time..  GE "AC" machine ---- Smith Torch/regulators ----  Harris Portable Torch ----- Makita 4" Grinder ----- Makita Chop Saw
Reply:Originally Posted by Case_manThanks for the response guys I really do appriciate it. Yes I have wondered about 7014 never thought of useing it with the 6011s I should have thought about that. Useing the 6011s for root passes.
Reply:You can store 7018 in a mini fridge with a 100 watt light bulb. That is enough to keep your rod dry.
Reply:Case_man welcome. Just remember any rod flux with iron powder will draw moisture from the air. What you suggest will work and where you are not doing any code work I would just keep the rod dry and out of the rain. You could make a box out of wood and just run a light bulb into it from the back and you basically leave the bulb on and it will keep the electrodes warm enough for operation.  A light bulb burning in your shop wouldn't cost that much and if you feel it is needed it can help.Weldor/ Certified Inspector
Reply:Welcome Case_man!  To store my rods I made a steel box 24"x 18"x 18" insulated it and put a 60 watt light bulb inside and it keeps a temperture of 80°. I have never had any trouble with porosity.Here is a few pictures of my box. Attached Images
Reply:If you find a good deal on a rod oven go for it. Otherwise, like others have said  small boxes of rod stored in rod tubes and you'll be fine.Tough as nails and damn near as smart
Reply:Been welding all my life. 60 now. Certified on pipe for refineries, welded truck frames, built about everything, never welded with rod from a heated box. If it gets a wee bit of porosity at the first start, then just stick the rod to begin with. It will drive out the moisture and then break it loose and weld. Save your money and just use them up. Harold
Reply:Originally Posted by WHughesYou can store 7018 in a mini fridge with a 100 watt light bulb. That is enough to keep your rod dry.
Reply:I use a refrigerator and put magnesium chloride in a small bucket inside.  The salt draws every bit of moisture out of the air.  Rods stay perfectly dry.  I use a long pipe nipple threaded on both ends and put pipe caps on each end to store the rods in out of the Refrigerator if I am welding away from my shop.  This is for use on my farm only.
Reply:Thanks so much for all the response, ideas and welcomes guys!!!  I really like the 7018 rods and want to be able to use them I see alot of good ideas here. Yes my welder is AC only It has a nice smooth arc welds really nice.J.I. CASE man til the end of Time..  GE "AC" machine ---- Smith Torch/regulators ----  Harris Portable Torch ----- Makita 4" Grinder ----- Makita Chop Saw