middle aged musing's on rod ovens

[chip-kobb]

Whilst i was out and about doing a few site jobs recently my firm thought it would be a good idea(?) for "the boy" to accompany me,maybe he might learn something useful or at least be less in the way around the workshop?
As i'm a nice sort of chap (big softy) i took the time to show him a few bits and piece's that i've picked up over the years from some genuinely gifted fellow's i've been lucky enough to know and still chat too which brings me along in a roundabout way to rod pre heating, in most workshop's there are rod ovens or at least a radiator set to tropical near a secretary in an office somewhere but once your al fresco pretty much the only technique i've ever heard of for pre warming a rod is to place a few on a freshly welded piece of steelwork,"the boy" was surprised at this in todays modern world,he no doubt thought they came cordless by now! It may seem a bizarre question but i'm wondering has anyone heard of or seen a rod oven that can be carried in a works van and run off the ciggie socket? I know you can get 110v quivers for sitework but a lot of the time we're in and out with only half a dozen or so rods needed.

 

[rtbcomp]

Looks like that's a product waiting to be invented!

 

[Sid]

Is it not possible to vacuum pack small quantities of dry rods?

 

[metalspanner]

Most vehicles would have room for a fabricated box of some sort, to be affixed to the biggest heat generator (engine) without having to waste a 12v socket, I suppose a sheet steel box or even ally could be made, though it would need some form of padding to stop the rods from decoating themselves.
Probably a mechanics Kevlar sleeve, it all depends on what job your doing, some need to be at a temprature to work properly, others just to stop the coating absorbing moisture and fouling the bead.

 

[chip-kobb]

I'm surprised already by the level of enginuity chaps! Unfortunately vacuum pack is a bit overkill as i'm only looking to stop them picking up excess moisture and possibly help with arc starting, this may sound controversial but it has been suggested to me in the past that it makes no differance if they are only "slightly warm",personally i've found it helps a great deal! At home i keep my rods in the airing cupboard! I've been thinking about this and i'm almost sure there are small camping temperature controlled compartments available that plug in to ciggie socket's?

 

[cutandshut]

Ideally it would need to be hot enough to warm your pies and pasties.

 

[TechnicAl]

Rods definitely run better from warm. In the case of LoHys they only really start to work when hot enough so any help has to be good. Most manufacturers now do vac pacs so as someone said earlier, sit one on the engine or put a few inside a steel / ally tube....Oerlikon supply rods in round steel cans........buy one and youve got your "oven".
Cellulosics are also often supplied in tins

 

[Flathead_Dave]

How about this?
Power consumption a bit high though,might have to run the engine a bit.
Prob like leaving headlights on.
You could plug it in on way to site,should hold the heat for some time once there.

http://www.outdoorgb.com/p/12v_port...urrency=GBP&country=GBR&SelectedBundle=136864

I've seen US versions that claim to heat to 300F.

 

[dai]

re- the ovens
would it be possible to make 1 out of an old fridge with a light bulb to supply the heat
i know it wouldnt be that warm but it would be dry and good for storeing rods and grinder discs
would it??

 

[shenion]

My rod oven is about 100 Watts. It is small, only holds about 5 lbs of rods. Gets to almost 200C.

A fridge ould probably work with a small bulb. Would keep it always warmer than the surrounding air so would limit the change of condensation.

It probably would not handle the heat to be effective as a preheat for welding (too much plastic.)

I store my rods in PVC pipes with desiccant bags. Until I found the rod oven, I had planned on using an old toaster oven to heat rods.

 

[pedrobedro]

Put them in a metal box and wire tie it to the exhaust manifold Pack 'em in tight or it will rattle like mad though.

 

[Ratty]

How about something like this? has both cold and hot settings. (Rods on the way out, beer on the way back).
Or for a cheaper version get a 12v mug and extend it with some tubing...might work..might not

 

[Drains]

Got the invention hat on... A rod box affixed to the exhaust! By the time you get to site they'll be well toasty. Pre- warmed, insulated 12v quiver to keep them warm to transfer them to, weld on!

Or, removable exhaust rod box. Might get a bit mucky though. You get my drift, im sure.

Oh Cock.... Never saw pedro 's reply. Why do i bother?

 

[Ratty]

A 12v inspection light (the long fluorescent type) inside an insulated tube.. (this is why i stay away from this forum...I burn my supper)

 

[mike os]

I used to have a desktop fridge that heated as well...12v/220v, would have been plenty hot enough to warm rods, and keep your pies warm

 

[wyn]

I had a bash at making something similar when i reworked the exhaust on my chinese welder/generator.
The rectangular chamber in the grey exhaust was for rods...it didn't go quite to plan though as the vibration caused havoc with the flux
The exhaust has been changed again since then.

 

[pidgeon chit welder]

Whilst i was out and about doing a few site jobs recently my firm thought it would be a good idea(?) for "the boy" to accompany me,maybe he might learn something useful or at least be less in the way around the workshop?
As i'm a nice sort of chap (big softy) i took the time to show him a few bits and piece's that i've picked up over the years from some genuinely gifted fellow's i've been lucky enough to know and still chat too which brings me along in a roundabout way to rod pre heating, in most workshop's there are rod ovens or at least a radiator set to tropical near a secretary in an office somewhere but once your al fresco pretty much the only technique i've ever heard of for pre warming a rod is to place a few on a freshly welded piece of steelwork,"the boy" was surprised at this in todays modern world,he no doubt thought they came cordless by now! It may seem a bizarre question but i'm wondering has anyone heard of or seen a rod oven that can be carried in a works van and run off the ciggie socket? I know you can get 110v quivers for sitework but a lot of the time we're in and out with only half a dozen or so rods needed.

I have seen some gas fire bits & jets out the bottom of an lpg gas oven for the heat source , heating a 3 inch dia tube all set in a carry case with vent holes & tube end doors , running on lpg that has an off tap at the " oven ". Because the rods are in the door'd tube the moisture off the burning gas does not affect the rods .
I suppose that an old barbeque burner with the flame control could also be used along with the door ended tube so long as it is all solidly fixed in a carry case..

We also used to supply brand new 240 volt cookers and 20 KVA genny's to some sites for rod heating purposes ( suspect that they'd be 110 volts nowadsays )

Perhaps For a few rods to take out on site .. taking them from a dry store ... use a clean dry 3 litre lemonade bottle with the screw top in place when the rods are inside it and also slip some dry silica gel to half full in the bottle to help stop them rolling around ???

My rods live in the airing cupboard in a steel lidded tin cylinder this fits just nice into an emptyscrew top Vircon S canister .

 

[pidgeon chit welder]

I used to have a desktop fridge that heated as well...12v/220v, would have been plenty hot enough to warm rods, and keep your pies warm

Lots of these small dual purpose 12 volt cool /heat boxes can reach a sensible temp when switched to heat , so perheating on 240 v for several hours before the journey should see a decent hot box for the whole journey , providing your not going to hangaround all day on the job it should not flatten a battery ..if you take the 240 v power lead and there is juice at the site then you'd have no probs either.