50# welding rod cans?

If it is just being used for general welding and no code work just keep it sealed.

Wrap the can in a bit of fibreglass insulating wool, put a 100 watt light globe in the can and seal up the lot. The heat will keep condensation from forming in the can.

Tom

Store it as you did your 7018 rods. The difference is in the strenght of the metal, the flux is the same. I keep mine in the cardboard packaging it came in, metal and plastic would create condenstion in my area, temperatures falling below due point many days during the year. If you are worried about hydrogen cracking heat enough rod for that job in your oven at

250 deg. F. for 5 or 6 hours. Preheat any thick metals to be welded. Hope this helps..

Grant, in the welding shop(s) I worked in we had a defunct refrigerator that we stored our rods in. Only the light worked, but we disabled the door switch so the light stayed on all the time. 75 watt bulb kept the moisture in the box way down. I am looking for a small undercounter refergerator to do the same thing with. If I can't find one, I will build a plywood box, line it with 1/2" foam building board, put a 40 watt bulb in it. Regards, JRJ

I believe that desiccant would help keep your rod in good shape. Resealing the can with alumium foil secured by duct tape would also be good. Aluminum foil does not let water vapor thru. Most plastics are not as good. Even genuine Saran Wrap is not as good as aluminum foil.

Dan

I believe that desiccant would help keep your rod in good shape. Resealing the can with alumium foil secured by duct tape would also be good. Aluminum foil does not let water vapor thru. Most plastics are not as good. Even genuine Saran Wrap is not as good as aluminum foil.

Dan

20mm ammo cans work pretty well also.

Gunner

Liberals - Cosmopolitan critics, men who are the friends of every country save their own. Benjamin Disraeli

A vacuum food sealer works fine for this. Just make some long bags and seal it in 5 lb increments. Or just use big ziplock bags. Throw in some uncooked white rice to act as a desicant.

The welding supply places sell gasketed plastic screw top containers for a few bucks, I also use suplus mortar ammo containers, they are plastic, gasketed with screw top lid.

Tony

I gently pipe up and remind all that I wired a 100W reptile bulb inside a 30MM ammo can with a divider and with aluminum tape all around the inside it stays at a comfortable 132 degrees or more inside. The wire entry is sealed up also, so the ammo can still retains its sealing ability. It has handles, won't hold more than I can carry (well, actually, yes it will!) and the power cord actually unplugs from the end of the can for transport.

"Ernie Leimkuhler" A vacuum food sealer works fine for this. (clip) ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ That's what I was going to suggest. I have also used this to keep partially filled bottles of photo developer from oxidizing. BTW, also good for keeping food fresh.

Another idea for the welding rod: Cut up a length of plastic sewer pipe, 2 or 3" in diameter, and put end caps on it.

Whether they tin is freshly opened or not, drying the rods reduces the preheat you need to apply. Preheating a ship plate is expensive so drying the rods saves money. For you it might be simpler to heat the plate a bit more.

Just stick them in a toaster oven before use. You want to make sure you just heat them enough to drive the moisture out, don't heat them until the flus changes color. I keep my rod in a sealed container, and then bake at ~150F. Pat