Do rods go off?

[Cobbler]

As title, I’ve found some ESAB electrode's,that would have been bought in the mid 80’s, they have been stored on an airtight container with a desiccant pack, I’d forgotten all about them. I went to use them this afternoon & couldn’t do anything with them, stuck, wouldn’t stay alight, no use at all. I was under the impression that ESAB were the dogs watsits. They obviously were ok originally as I built a boat trailer with an old buzz box. I don’t want to chuck them if I can help it as looking on the web, they are a small fortune for a box.

 

[hotponyshoes]

Wait until the wife goes out and redry a couple of them in the oven.

Look up the data sheet, should give you temp & time. Or wack it on max for an hour.
Try with a couple first. If they all crack then try again with a predry- on top the radiator for a few days

 

[hotponyshoes]

Might also be worth trying a different rod, make sure it's the rod rather than the welder

 

[Cobbler]

Might also be worth trying a different rod, make sure it's the rod rather than the welder

No it’s the rods, I changed to the ones I’ve been using before & they welded ok. I’m certain they are not damp, an O ring sealed anti tank shell storage case I think it is with a desiccant pack in. I will bung them in the oven though, do you think it would cause a taste problem in with the Sunday joint

 

[hotponyshoes]

No it’s the rods, I changed to the ones I’ve been using before & they welded ok. I’m certain they are not damp, an O ring sealed anti tank shell storage case I think it is with a desiccant pack in. I will bung them in the oven though, do you think it would cause a taste problem in with the Sunday joint

I'm not sure the best case in the world and multiple desiccant packs would keep stuff dry for 40yrs

I wouldn't risk the Sunday roast.
Or, more importantly, put the rods in with something that's going to create steam

 

[premmington]

I have thrown out more MMA welding rods than I have used over the years...

I try to dry store them - in airtight tubes...

I also got a welding rod oven to dry them - but costing falls off if they been too damp.


I done the air cupboard thing - dad had an old mini fridge with a lightbulb in it.

The answer is buy smalled quantities in vacpac packaging.

 

[Cobbler]

I'm not sure the best case in the world and multiple desiccant packs would keep stuff dry for 40yrs

I wouldn't risk the Sunday roast.
Or, more importantly, put the rods in with something that's going to create steam

I was joking about the Sunday joint, I like my food too much to risk that. The desiccant packs change colour when damp, these were still showing dry, but maybe still not dry enough for the rods. I will cook them & try again. I think probably I shall end up binning them though. I’ve got plenty of others, just don’t like the idea of chucking stuff out.

 

[Barking Mat]

The answer is buy smalled quantities in vacpac packaging.

As @premmington said, this is the way forward, we used to buy 5kg boxes at work, sometimes would last years, wrapped in cling film, kept in the office in winter, it just doesn't work.

We buy small packs now.

 

[Cobbler]

The other rods I’ve got are fine, it’s just I found these tucked away, didn’t know I had them, you’ve got to try them, haven’t you, I’m sure you would Matt, come in, admit it.

 

[sg66]

I've never ever ever thrown a rod out, it may take half of it to get it to run nicely but I'm far too tight to be binning mediocre rods.

 

[premmington]

I'm going to use my powers of reasoning to suggest rather than me guess that the reason they were rods left behind was that they weren't compatible with your old buzz box welder when building the boat trailer, you share the number on the rod. That will help identify the coating, what's in it and if it should be dry baked or it won't make a difference?

That is big problem lots of modern rods not suitable for low OCV from AC buzz box - most modern rods like higher voltages from inverters in DC.

 

[brightspark]

i just either whack the amps up and stick the rod on the return and it heats up fast sometimes smokes or i heat em with a blowtorch and they work perfect

 

[premmington]

i just either whack the amps up and stick the rod on the return and it heats up fast sometimes smokes or i heat em with a blowtorch and they work perfect

Not tried a blow torch - but I have dead shorted a few to heat them up.

This not possible with new fangled inverters I got - but a buzzbox will do it....

 

[Cobbler]

I'm going to use my powers of reasoning to suggest rather than me guess that the reason they were rods left behind was that they weren't compatible with your old buzz box welder when building the boat trailer, you share the number on the rod. That will help identify the coating, what's in it and if it should be dry baked or it won't make a difference?

They were used to build the trailer with a buzz box, just got forgotten about. They are E6013’s. I tried them today with a Jasic inverter. I will cook them & try again

 

[premmington]

They were used to build the trailer with a buzz box, just got forgotten about. They are E6013’s. I tried them today with a Jasic inverter. I will cook them & try again

Wire brushing up the stub ends on a bench grinder with a rotary wire wheel where they go into electrode holder helps as well if you deperate to use them.

(ask me how I know this )

 

[brightspark]

Not tried a blow torch - but I have dead shorted a few to heat them up.

This not possible with new fangled inverters I got - but a buzzbox will do it....

180 amp oil cooled used to sometimes burn a few bodyshells up with it using big welding rods

 

[premmington]

180 amp oil cooled used to sometimes burn a few bodyshells up with it using big welding rods

I just cleared a Pickhill Bantam 180 welder out from under my Fathers work bench - leaking oil bottom - rotted out.

Nice long set of leads thou - no burns on insulation of 35mm sq red double rubber covered flexible cable - I kept them - 12/14 mtrs ish each - earth slightly shorter that the longer stinger cable (just as they should be).

 

[Bornfree]

I was given 10 packs of esab ok48 4mm rods in very old but sealed packs they were totally unusable, but after 7 days in my rod oven at 300°c they now weld lovely.

 

[LewisT]

i got given a clarke buzz box and a few packs of rods in lieu of payment for welding some gates for my uncle, worked fine at the time gave it away a year later to a friend so was giving a quick demonstration the rods could barely arc and keep lit till the rods got warm then they were fine for the last half.

 

[julianthegypsy]

By sheer coincidence, I found a sealed box of Nikko 6013's that I haven't done anything with yet. The box says put them in the oven for an hour at 110⁰ if they get damp. I will try it, if I run out of gas or wire...