Mild Steel filler metal storage

[usmcruz]

Well I headed out to my storage shed, and went to grab a couple mildsteel filler rods, and noticed they started to rust. Will this affect my welds, and is it necessary to wipe off the rust or can I weld as normal with no ill effects. I now keep mild steel filler metal in the house where the temp is controlled with little humidity, but I was wondering if some of you had this same problem.

[bretsk2500]

I'm assuming you're talking about cut lengths for GTAW or O/A, right? Either way, rust is bad as you have no flux to clean the oxides out of the weld pool....

[paulrbrown]

Cruz, get a 'Rodguard' tube for your Tig [36"] and 14 or 18 inch for Stick rods, I have had uncoated steel tig rods outside for 7 years with no rust, your LWS will have them, hope this helps, Paul

[usmcruz]

Thanks allot, and I will go out and get a rod guard for all my rods, both tig and stick. I seen those containers in the LWS, but it didnt look like it would of kept my tig and stick rods dry, but I pondered the idea of throwing in a little device that takes the moisture out of the air, like damp rid, but if the containers will do the trick then I will go and pick them up tomorrow. Thanks Paul!

[bretsk2500]

Throwing in a desiccant pack wouldn't be a bad idea in the tig electrodes.... as fat as your stick electrodes... if they're xx18 they really should be kept inside and heated... (if you've got a forced hot air furnace, sticking them inside the inspection door of the furnace is pretty much the perfect place to keep them with the exception of a rod oven) if they're 6013/6011... a desiccant pack in a rodguard would do just fine..

[Broccoli1]

Thanks allot, and I will go out and get a rod guard for all my rods, both tig and stick. I seen those containers in the LWS, but it didnt look like it would of kept my tig and stick rods dry, but I pondered the idea of throwing in a little device that takes the moisture out of the air, like damp rid, but if the containers will do the trick then I will go and pick them up tomorrow. Thanks Paul!

I like my LWS but they wanted 24 bux each so I shopped on-line

http://www.weldingsuppliesfromioc.co...let/Categories

http://www.millerwelds.com/resources...ad.php?t=14252

[usmcruz]

bretsk2500, Im gonna just go ahead and drop the coin on a medium sized rod oven, capable of 100 pounds of electrodes, and get a smaller portable unit for the truck. From what I experienced, the heated 7018's work so much better right out of an oven. I just been dragging my feet on it, because good rod ovens aint cheap, but Id rather not sacrifice the quality of a weld when doing a job, just because I didnt want to spend the coin. Id rather not do a job, and lose the money, than to do a job, and it look crappy from porosity due to moisture in my 7018 rods. Now with that said, what kind of oven would you recommend?

Im definately getting those containers tomorrow though.

[usmcruz]

I like my LWS but they wanted 24 bux each so I shopped on-line

http://www.weldingsuppliesfromioc.co...let/Categories

http://www.millerwelds.com/resources...ad.php?t=14252

IOC rocks, I bought my TB302 from them. Excellent customer service.


You know when you think you have everything you need tools wise, you always come across something else that you need. I think this is what causes that big hole in my wallet that makes my paychecks disappear!. Those brackets you made using that brake, came out really nice. Now I need to go get a brake, thanks man.

[bretsk2500]

bretsk2500, Im gonna just go ahead and drop the coin on a medium sized rod oven, capable of 100 pounds of electrodes, and get a smaller portable unit for the truck. From what I experienced, the heated 7018's work so much better right out of an oven. I just been dragging my feet on it, because good rod ovens aint cheap, but Id rather not sacrifice the quality of a weld when doing a job, just because I didnt want to spend the coin. Id rather not do a job, and lose the money, than to do a job, and it look crappy from porosity due to moisture in my 7018 rods. Now with that said, what kind of oven would you recommend?

Im definately getting those containers tomorrow though.

I don't have a rod oven, but I'm trying like **** to get my employers to buy me a Keen KT10 portable oven for my job trailer... What I'm doing now is just buying the smallest amount I can in factory sealed containers and while I'm welding, set the metal can on an old burnt welding glove over the muffler area of my bobcat... not very elegant, but it works.

[usmcruz]

while I'm welding, set the metal can on an old burnt welding glove over the muffler area of my bobcat... not very elegant, but it works.

Nice!, I hear you can make some muffler lunches that way too by wrapping the food around the muffler using tin foil. It probably gives it that nice sooty aroma.

[WyoRoy]

Nice!, I hear you can make some muffler lunches that way too by wrapping the food around the muffler using tin foil. It probably gives it that nice sooty aroma.

Don't knock it until ya' try it. I do it every night at work and my brakeman tells me I eat better than 95% of the people at home. One of my favorites is asparagus with black beans, but chicken burritos, chicken chili and brussel sprouts also get top ranking. On the cold serve side of the menu is a great tuna, green bean, baby potato, olive oil and baby tomato salad with Italian herbs...learned to make it watching that Italian gal with the great chest on the Food Network.

As far as the rod ovens go...mine weighs a ton, takes up too much room and is sitting empty right now.

[usmcruz]

learned to make it watching that Italian gal with the great chest on the Food Network.

I watch her too, but I end up missing the cooking side of it, because of her great rack of ribs, chicken ******, and nice rump roasts that is usually cooking as well.

[HAWK]

Cheap yet very nice and effective.

1 1/2" SCHD 40 PVC and a couple of end caps make very effective yet cheap GTAW filler storage containers. Glue one end cap and leave the other dry so ti is easy to remove. If you want something a bit slicker, then use female adapters and a threaded plug on each end. A black Sharpie is a great labeler if you have several containers to keep on hand. As already mentioned a packet of silica gel is great addition to most dry storage containers.

[c wagner]

1 1/2" SCHD 40 PVC and a couple of end caps make very effective yet cheap GTAW filler storage containers. Glue one end cap and leave the other dry so ti is easy to remove. If you want something a bit slicker, then use female adapters and a threaded plug on each end. A black Sharpie is a great labeler if you have several containers to keep on hand. As already mentioned a packet of silica gel is great addition to most dry storage containers.

That's an awesome Idea, I'm going to have to sneak down to the hardware store and get some supplies for that. If the wife catches me on the way to the hardware store she'll want me to renovate something, and we can't have that!!!

[Frank865]

1 1/2" SCHD 40 PVC and a couple of end caps make very effective yet cheap GTAW filler storage containers. Glue one end cap and leave the other dry so ti is easy to remove. If you want something a bit slicker, then use female adapters and a threaded plug on each end. A black Sharpie is a great labeler if you have several containers to keep on hand. As already mentioned a packet of silica gel is great addition to most dry storage containers.

I've made my own for years, out of inch & a quarter or, inch & a half PVC. I use two end caps, glue both on, & use a male & female adapter about ten inches from the end, sure makes it easier to get the rods out.