welding rod

[Anonymous-0]

what is the shelf life of welding rod? like used with a lincoln buzz box?
if it has been in a plastic case?
if it has been exposed in a barn?

thanks

 

[504]

Open to the air, overnight maybe too long, as long as it welds alright, use it. You can dry it out in a oven(if your wife is not homePeople keep rod for years using nothing more than an old refrigerator and a 30 watt light bulb.

 

[Anonymous-0]

As long as they never got wet, rods don't really expire. 7018 are the only rods that ever need an oven. Other rods just have to be kept dry. 6010 and 6011 need a little moisture and weld way worse when they're too dry.

 

[Fred Martin]

Did you ever rig up an old refrigerator, break off the switch that makes the light go out when the door is closed and put a 30/40 watt bulb in it?
About 3 weeks was all the longer those bulbs would last me. But, knowing a bit about electronics and electricity (enough to be dangerous...smile!) I rounded up a one or two watt diode and put it in one of the leads feeding the 120 volts to the light bulb, put in a 100 watt bulb, marked the date of installation with a black magic marker and it was 5 years when I replaced that bulb. It doesn't matter which way the diode is installed inline...just make it taped or shrink tubed good and safe. I have mentioned this before but, it doesn't hurt to run it through again for the new guys. ohfred