I am in the process of cleaning/reclaiming my shop since my brothers departure /deportation, he left behind a rather large stash of welding rod (arc) in all manner of storage such as, cardboard box with no liner, cardboard box with liner (open and sealed), metal tins (sealed and open), and plastic tubes which seem to seal rather well. The flux seems to be holding up well and is not falling off the inner core. The shop has had moisture issues since it was built, I use to have a pair of dehumidifiers running that kept the moisture in check. Over the last four years or so they failed and I just refused to buy a replacement due to the B.S going on inside (fuel line broke or cut thread).
The rod has been stored in the shop for maybe 13 years, I know the rod should be kept dry but I would hate to toss out something useful. I have no real need for it "at this time" as I use MIG for most welding. The chances of my brother returning for all the crap he left behind is very small and I have no issue with tossing his E36 M3 out the door, if it's no good.
Thanks, Paul
Damp is junk, or so I've heard. Makes it hard to strike an arc. Once its burning, not so bad.
Giv'em to your local high school metalshop class. I'm sure the kiddies could burn them up and not even care that they've been improperly stored.
Put 'em in an oven under lowest heat for a while and see how they look, try 'em out.
+1 for the "give um a try" … take some scrap metal and try running a bead … the worst that can happen is they don't work …
If you don't stick weld, donate.
You can always buy a small package of fresh for any projects that need it.
Donating may open the door to other benefits.
Wait, there are still high schools that teach welding? And other practical skills?
I have a can of SS welding rod that my father brought home from work years ago. He retired in 1982 and passed in 1988 if that tells you how old! I use the rod by knocking off the flux and cleaning the rod up and then using it to TIG weld with it. I have heard that baking it in an oven at low heat will drive the moisture out making it "useable". My TIG welder can stick weld but I only have experimented with it, never welded anything that counted. My father was certified and did weld pipes at nuclear power plants in the Chicago area.
I have some welding rod that I got with my stick welder almost 30 years ago. It is in an open bucket. 6011 rod, and another type that I forget the number, but was developed to weld flat sheets together during WWII because it arcs up inside the flux and you just drag it over the joint (easy to teach). Still works great.
