Conditioning Welding Sticks

[derekh]

Hi,

After reading some of the threads here over the past few days, I've just bought one of the $100 Ozito 140 Amp units. I've seen some mention of heating the sticks in an oven for up to 2 hours and I'd like to know why. I suspect it is remove all traces of moisture to reduce arc spatter, is this correct and do I need to condition the sticks ?

I also spent some time reading an old, 2005, thread on welding techniques written by Graham and the link to Aussie Weld. Thanks Graham for the putting such detailed information in a thread.

Over the next few months I plan to build a logging arch and a ProCut style stationary chainsaw mill.

cheers
Derek

[Claw Hama]

Yes Derek, you shouldn't have to heat new un-opened rods usually only rods that have been open for a while although it certainly won't hert to heat them just in case. Heated vacuum chamber is the best but most people just use a heat box or oven.

[Woodlee]

Most welding shops up here store the opened packets in an oven , during the wet season the humidity is very high .
The flux on the rods seems to absorb moisture like a sponge ,and will blow off the rod as it heats up during the welding process causing problems with weld quality .

The heat from a 100 watt light globe in the cupboard where you store your rods will work ok in a pinch.

Kev.

Kev.

[Grahame Collins]

For most of us storing the opened electrodes in a PVC plumbing pipe with caps on either end is sufficient.

Its only LH and stainless rods that suffer any real effect rods from moisture absorption.

The the home welder unless you are building pressure vessels or crane booms at home you will never notice it.They only need the oven treatment when really damp.

We are talking really wet electrodes here. To see the difference ,put one aside and wet it-dip it in water to let it soak in.
Weld with it and compare the difference. Trust me, the difference will be very noticeable.

My electrodes are stored as I describe above .Living in tropical, humid Mackay,I have never had to reheat them even the stainless ones.

Go to the hardware shop and spend a few bob on pipes and caps. Make the pipes about 25mm longer than your electrodes and you will have room to stick one of those little satchels of silica gel that come with some prescription medications under one of the caps.

Woodlee is right though about the Top End humidity, it is something else.

regards all
Grahame

[derekh]

Thanks for the feedback. I'm so looking forward to re-learning how to weld, it's been 30 years since I last welded - back when I was an apprentice in the RAAF. Its amazing, I look around at all the jobs I have put off because I needed something welded and didn't want to ask the BILs.

cheers
Derek

[Dean]

I have a hot water system in a little room off the laundry. Its ususally fairly warm inside so I put my electrodes in there to keep them nice and toasty

[Vernonv]

I have a hot water system in a little room off the laundry. Its ususally fairly warm inside so I put my electrodes in there to keep them nice and toasty

Just make sure that the HWS doesn't vent into the room, otherwise the humidity generated may be counter-productive to the drying process.

[Dean]

Just make sure that the HWS doesn't vent into the room, otherwise the humidity generated may be counter-productive to the drying process.

Yup its dry

[bsrlee]

Considering the price of PVC plumbing bits, just use a plastic pasta storage jar - they cost about the same as one end cap.

If you have a collection of those bags of silica gell that come in tool packaging, heat them gently in an oven for a few hours, then put them in the jar with the rods.