Easy heat contained storage

[JD Seller]

I see a lot of people talking about needing to dry out welding rods and such. Also many types of Loctite and paint you do not want to freeze.

I have used an old refrigerator with a 60 watt light bulb in the bottom of it for over 30 years. The bulb will keep it warm but not too hot year round. In the summer I put in a 40 watt bulb. I usually move the paint and such out but in the winter I just put it all in there.

I have boughten welding rods at sales that where soaking wet. Just put them just above the light bulb and forget them for a few weeks. They usually will dry out and be fine. Some times the flux will flake off but most of the time they will not.

This is not some thing revolutionary to do. Just any old frig and light fixture. The frig has lots of shelves and draws to store things. I have two that are full right now. They both where free.

I have never had to preheat any of the welding rods I use after storing them this way. I used to use a lot of 7018 and 10018 rods. I always stored them this way. They always worked fine and pasted inspection.
 

[NCWayne]

Over the years I've seen more old 'friges used to store welding rods than I can count. I just replace mine awhile back and as soon as I can make a space my old one is going in the shop for that very purpose.
 

[Bob Huntress]

I use an old toaster oven to heat the rods. I helps get them moisture free, which includes the hydrogen for which 7018 is suppose to be, low hydrogen.
 

[Stick welding]

The hydrogen isn't in the flux. Welding produces hydrogen gas that can affect weld strength. Low hydrogen means the rods produce the lowest amount of diffusible hydrogen.
 

[Paul Janke]

I have had good luck using a 240 volt bulb on 120 volts in this application. They last for years unless somebody slams the door enough to shake and therefore break the filament.
 

[Puddles]

[JD Seller]

The last bridge job I welded on was about 9-10 years ago. It was a repair job on a hit bridge on I-380. Every weld on the main beams where x-rayed before the state inspector would sign off on the job being complete. I used some 7018 rod on that job that where years old but had been stored inside.

My main point being that if you store the rods with low heat they will stay dry and last a long time.
 

[Puddles]

JD that just goes to show you the degree of welding inspection in this country!
I think it was in 1998 I was sent to California to over see the welding of 1-mile of pipe tray in a refinery. This pipe tray was over water. The pipes in this tray carried product to and from the refinery to the shipping dock. The welders were all running wire, the erection crew welder was tacking with 7018. The refinery's welding inspector would keep track of the amount of time the 7018 was out of the rod oven!
 

[SDE]

I have a lamp in my gun safe. It is on a timer . The safe is in the basement and it can be very damp down there. I never have had any moisture related problems with anything that is stored in the safe.
SDE
 

[scotc]

They are also good for storing small parts and manuals.
 

[JOB]

I would think that a refrigerator with a couple of light bulbs it it would not get hot enough to keep 7018 welding rods hot enough. I had this rod oven set at 200 degrees, when I used 3/32 7018 out of the oven I would see holes in the weld. I increased the oven temperature to 325 and the problem went away. Here is a link to what a rod oven. com recommends look at storage and exposurer limits. re-drying looks interesting also
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