How to Dry a Welding Rod
Welding rods react differently to moisture. Low hydrogen welding rods, such as 7018s, become unreliable when exposed to a standard atmosphere for four hours. Non-low hydrogen welding rods like 6011s show no difference when exposed to moisture. When low hydrogen welding rods are exposed to direct water, you must recondition them before use or the finished weld will show defects. Standard defects include porosity, hairline cracks and poor penetration.
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Instructions
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Read the numbers located near the end of the welding rod to determine the rod type.
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Find the rod numbers on a drying chart. Locate the reconditioning temperature and time on the chart.
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Set the temperature of a cooking oven to the designated temperature if the rod reconditioning temperature is less than 500 degrees Fahrenheit. Preheat the oven to the desired temperature. Set the temperature of a rod oven to the designated temperature for welding rods with a reconditioning temperature greater than 500 degrees Fahrenheit. Turn on the rod oven.
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Place the wet welding rods into the heated oven.
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Remove dry welding rods from the oven after the time specified on the drying chart has passed.
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If you are drying more than one welding rod, reduce the temperature of the oven to the holding temperature stated on the drying chart to keep the welding rods at the proper temperature.
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References
- Photo Credit a construction worker welding steel image by Pavel Losevsky from Fotolia.com
