DIY : How to make a filler rod storage container\tubes on a $20 budget.

Ok I wanted to do this the first time I bought my welder but I just didn't have the time.So this weekend I got fed up of leaving my welding table just to grab some more filler rod that I went to home depot and bought all the parts and build my own container.It is very easy and you can add your own twist too it when doing your own,I will just give you the easy basic way of doing it on a $20 budget.

I made 5 individual containers but you can add as much as you want.Parts are:
Qty (6) PVC Pipe 1 in. x 2 ft.
Qty (5) PVC Tee Fitting 1 in.
Qty (4) PVC pipe clamps for 1 in. pipes
Qty (8) Dry wall screws 1 5/8 in.
Qty (1) 2 x 4 in. ply wood 2 ft. long

Cut (1) of the PVC Pipe 1 in. x 2 ft. into 3" in length to get a quantity of 4 pieces then insert them into the Tee fitting.Use a hammer and give them some light taps for the pipes to go all the way inside the Tee fittings.After you joined all the Tee fittings together,now place it on the 2x4 ply wood and put the clamps between each Tee fitting and screw them down securely in place using the dry wall screws.Insert the (5) PVC Pipe 1 in. x 2 ft into the Tee fitting and gently tap them in,you are now done and here is the final product.
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y20...ps48b3eba8.jpg

For best storage, you should extend the tubing and put screw on caps on them. This will stop some of the oxidation, and keep them more fresh.

Thanks Mark I will grab some joiner and pipes the next time I am at the store.

I used the grey 1-1/4" PVC on my welding cart with slip on end caps, and glued the caps on one end while simply notching the other end's end cap. Once I figured out that the un-notched cap wouldn't remove without pliers and swear words, I notched them. They come off easy now. I keep the tubes that the filler rod comes in though and I simply slip those tubes into the PVC. The cool thing is the factory filler rod tubes will hold around 3 pounds of rod, so you can pile all of the different diameter rod of the same kind (say 309L or ER70S2) into one tube. Same basic idea though. I think I have 5 or 6 tubes on my cart at this point, so there is plenty of rod storage!

That makes perfect sense with the notching of the caps Andy,thanks for the insight I shall do the same :).

You're very welcome! I originally sanded them so they "popped" on and off easier but after I left them overnight, I still had trouble removing them the next day. Live and learn, I guess!:)

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Originally Posted by youngnstudly

You're very welcome! I originally sanded them so they "popped" on and off easier but after I left them overnight, I still had trouble removing them the next day. Live and learn, I guess!:)

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Interesting. I'm glad I saw this post as I'm sure I would have just tried sanding them as well. Thanks!

Fully enclosed and capped to prevent oxidation has been covered- is it worth it to have a "catch all" container to hold stub ends? Maybe something mounted a little higher, with a removable bottom cap to allow shorter lengths to drop out if they're too short to reach from the top.

Maybe a small box to store them in because you will have pieces of all different sizes and having a container as the one I built wouldnt work great in this situation.

Great idea on the notching Andy.

For the shorties, if you mount the tubes horizontally and leave them a couple inches long, you can have the partial rods right there at the end ready to grab.

I started out with them in 36"+ tubes with caps (no the screw on type). I still have some that way.

But over the years I now have the 4043/5356 stored in the plastic containers but the ER70 and 3xx are in the factory boxes. I pull out the number I think I will need for a job. When done, I put the unused back and leave the last used filler on the cart for next time. I also scotch bite them and wipe them before use.