Anyone get "give away" electrodes other than 7018 scrap?

[EchoSixMike]

I have found that people always think that throwing in a bunch of tore up, poorly stored 7018 rods is a good thing when selling a stick welder. I've recieved probably 50+lbs of ate up 7018's this way. It's become the way I determine if I'm buying from an actual welder or a hack. For example, my Miller T-bolt debacle, I got 20lbs of 7018 crap. Should have been a clue, but I was ignorant too. My Miller DEL200, I got a sealed 10lb can of 7018, but also a 50lb case of 6010 5P. That was a winning deal and 100% honest from a craftsman, not some scrub who dabbled and got bored.

Anyone else notice similar? S/F.....Ken M

[fdcmiami]

I have found that people always think that throwing in a bunch of tore up, poorly stored 7018 rods is a good thing when selling a stick welder. I've recieved probably 50+lbs of ate up 7018's this way. It's become the way I determine if I'm buying from an actual welder or a hack. For example, my Miller T-bolt debacle, I got 20lbs of 7018 crap. Should have been a clue, but I was ignorant too. My Miller DEL200, I got a sealed 10lb can of 7018, but also a 50lb case of 6010 5P. That was a winning deal and 100% honest from a craftsman, not some scrub who dabbled and got bored.

Anyone else notice similar? S/F.....Ken M

how do you know it was crap? that covers a wide range of condition. 7018 keeps for a long time.

[EchoSixMike]

When the flux is falling off the rusted metal, I'd say that's a dead giveaway S/F.....Ken M

[SeanMurphy265]

Take the good ones an put them in your kitchen oven for 45 minutes before you use them. That will get the moisture out and they will run good.

[EchoSixMike]

So, how long have you been divorced?

I've got about 150lbs of 11018's (I got a deal) either sealed or in my rod oven, I don't need to take heroic measures to try and save stuff. Yes, I know you can dehydrate rods by heating. I don't do code/X-ray welds, so I don't really get all anal retentive about low hydrogen stuff, but I was just seeing if my personal experiences were common to anyone else. More humor related than anything else. S/F.....Ken M

[undercut]

So, how long have you been divorced?

That was my first thought too! Do the rods produce a "smell" when heating? Maybe I can heat them up when the missus is out ....

Wondering too what kind of fumes to expect when powder coating. That oven in the kitchen can hold a few things ..... I'll post this question in the powercoat thread ....

[DaveO]

Do the rods produce a "smell" when heating?

No, but running shoes do. (Voice of experience talking here.)

To avoid marital strife you might pick up a toaster oven on Craigs List or something.

[undercut]

No, but running shoes do. (Voice of experience talking here.)

Oh, please! I just finished lunch ....

To avoid marital strife you might pick up a toaster oven on Craigs List or something.

I was thinking just that on the way in to work but the one I have now was a gift and is a convection toaster oven with a fan that circulates the warm, comforting and reassuring air. OK, forget that. Time to check out Walmart. Personally, I'm not terribly fond of buying second hand, high heat, low cost electrical devices.

[EchoSixMike]

That was my first thought too! Do the rods produce a "smell" when heating? Maybe I can heat them up when the missus is out ....

Wondering too what kind of fumes to expect when powder coating. That oven in the kitchen can hold a few things ..... I'll post this question in the powercoat thread ....

Hot steel has a smell, it's not bad though. Women have more sensitive noses than men however.

The toaster oven works just fine. Make sure it's large enough. I have a beater oven that I had for heat treating lead alloys, and it worked great, just had to fit the rods in diagonally, due to length. S/F......Ken M

[undercut]

Hot steel has a smell, it's not bad though. Women have more sensitive noses than men however.

The toaster oven works just fine. Make sure it's large enough. I have a beater oven that I had for heat treating lead alloys, and it worked great, just had to fit the rods in diagonally, due to length. S/F......Ken M

You bet ... way ahead of you. Have few toaster oven models written down from good 'ol Walmart.com that are cheap but are wide enough to handle 14" rods (probably need to be laid out diagonal too). A bit hard to gauge though as all dimensions are for the outside and the price goes up quickly for the really big units. May need to actually go in to measure.

[SeanMurphy265]

It doesn't have a smell. put them on an old cookie sheet, turn the oven 300-350 for five minutes, turn it off, and let them sit in the oven 30-45 minutes. Nothing gets me madder than sticking a bunch of rods. Might as well be throwing $$$ down the drain. Nothing is worse than sticking rods when you have crawled under something and your trying to weld.

[EchoSixMike]

Proper reconditioning of 7018's requires significantly more heat than 300 and for more than an hour. Various manufacturers recommend anywhere from 500F to 800F for one or two hours. Does 300F for half an hour noticably improve stick performance? Almost certainly does, but for the sake of accuracy, the "proper" procedures call for significantly more heat. S/F.....Ken M

[KSmith]

It doesn't have a smell. put them on an old cookie sheet, turn the oven 300-350 for five minutes, turn it off, and let them sit in the oven 30-45 minutes. Nothing gets me madder than sticking a bunch of rods. Might as well be throwing $$$ down the drain. Nothing is worse than sticking rods when you have crawled under something and your trying to weld.

Thank you for that formula for reconditioning. It will come in handy soon.

ken

[bobwills]

I have some old 7018 3/32 and when I use them just throw a hand full in my toaster oven. I too have to lay mine diagnal and if you get too many the door sometimes is hard to close. But they do work great.

[undercut]

I have some old 7018 3/32 and when I use them just throw a hand full in my toaster oven. I too have to lay mine diagnal and if you get too many the door sometimes is hard to close. But they do work great.

Forgot to bring a tape measure or similar with me when I went to Target today. Took a gander at their toast ovens but couldn't really tell if the 14" rods would fit or not .... I may need to break down and buy the 4 slice toaster!

[Brian Ski]

Forgot to bring a tape measure or similar with me when I went to Target today. Took a gander at their toast ovens but couldn't really tell if the 14" rods would fit or not .... I may need to break down and buy the 4 slice toaster!

Target has tape measures. You just don't have to buy one... Just try it for a little bit...