are 7024 rods affected by moisture?

[ahidley]

I just purchased a 50 lb box of miller 7024 rods and they came from the factory in a cardboard box inside another cardboard box. They were NOT in a metal can and they were NOT wrapped in plastic. So that being said, I thought that they needed to be kept dry. My question is: do they need to be kept dry?

[jcarter]

7024 electrodes aren't a low hydrogen rod so moisture won't affect the quality of the weld. That being said, I had some here that were a few years old and left out exposed to the air. I had a hell of a time maintaining an arc until about a quarter of the rod was consumed and the rod had heated up. I have to assume moisture had something to do with that. Now I keep all of my electrodes in those sealed electrode containers.7024 sure lays down purdy beads.

[bob308]

yes 7024 needs to be kept dry.

[brockley1]

I assume you don't have an electrode oven:rolleyes: Peter

[ahidley]

No I dont have an oven, i wish I did. I've been on the look out for one for cheap.... Anyone have a spare?

[Fasttrack]

you can build one on the cheap - google homemade rod ovens. Miller might even have plans on thier website

[studentjim]

An old refrigerator with just a 100 watt light bulb inside makes an excellent rod oven.

[lazlo]

Or an army ammo box with a lightbulb, if you need something smaller.

[torker]

I'm going to chime in on this...but I'll start a thread about ovens...over on the HOMESHOP WELDING FORUM...
Russ

[ahidley]

jcarter.. That is exactly the problems that I have with 7018s

[pcarpenter]

7018's are definitely sensitive to water absorption according to the Lincoln data sheet that came with some I have. What's more important is that they prescribe a very specific drying proceedure for that electrode (fairly high temp) and indicate specifically that the typical "keep warm for a long time" drying does not produce good results.

As I recall, the temp was up around 700 degrees for something like an hour....so you aren't going to dry them the right way in your home oven. I bought a bunch at a hock shop in an opened container and I figured I would just assume that they need dried. I think I can use a heat-treat oven here at work to do the job.

Paul