How to store welding rods

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The weld metal produced using basic electrodes for manual arc welding possesses excellent mechanical properties and crack resistance, which is why it is widely used in the welding of alloy steels and important carbon steel structures. Alkaline electrodes are also known as low-hydrogen electrodes, as the hydrogen content in their deposited metal is the lowest among all types of electrodes. Compared to acid-type electrodes, alkaline electrode fluxes require very low water content, as well as low diffused hydrogen levels in the deposited metal. If welding rods are not stored properly, they are prone to becoming damp or rusty, which severely affects the quality of welding; therefore, proper storage of alkaline welding rods is essential. Storage conditions for alkaline electrodes: Alkaline electrodes should be stored in a dedicated warehouse that is well-ventilated and kept clean. The warehouse should maintain a certain temperature and humidity level: the temperature should be between 10 and 20°C, with a relative humidity of less than 60%.    Welding rods should be stored on shelves, with the shelves being at a height of no less than 300 mm above the ground and no less than 300 mm away from the walls. The welding rods should be organized and stacked in the warehouse according to their type, grade, batch, and specifications; each category of welding rods should be clearly marked to prevent mixing.  Domestic welding electrodes are generally packaged in plastic bags and placed in paper or rubber boxes, resulting in poor sealing; whereas foreign welding electrodes are mostly packaged in vacuum-sealed metal containers, ensuring complete sealing. When inspecting and moving welding electrodes upon storage, care must be taken not to damage their packaging, to prevent poor sealing and subsequent absorption of moisture. In addition, the stored welding electrodes should be checked regularly to determine whether they are damp or damaged, and to ensure that the temperature and humidity are within the specified ranges; the warehouse should conduct such inspections at least once a day. Drying of alkaline electrodes: Alkaline electrodes should be dried at the baking temperature specified in the instructions. Alkaline electrodes should be dried at 350–400°C for 1 hour; for low-hydrogen electrodes with special requirements regarding hydrogen content, the drying temperature can be increased to 400–450°C. Welding rods packaged in metal vacuum-sealed containers remain dry and can be placed directly in insulated cabinets or welding rod insulation tubes. The oven temperature should be increased gradually; cold welding rods must not be placed in a high-temperature oven or cooled suddenly, to prevent the coating from cracking. When drying electrodes, they should be arranged in layers; each layer should not be too thick (usually 1–3 layers), to prevent uneven heating of the electrodes during drying and to make it easier to remove any moisture. The dried electrodes should be placed in an insulated cabinet, with the temperature inside the cabinet maintained within the range of 100–150°C. After receiving the welding rods, the welder places them in welding rod insulation sleeves to be stored at a temperature of 100–150°C.    Note: Redrying alkaline electrodes for several hours at a temperature lower than the specified baking temperature yields different results compared to baking them at the specified temperature for 1 hour. Therefore, to ensure the performance of alkaline electrodes and the quality of welding, these electrodes must be dried at the specified baking temperature and for the prescribed time.    Alkaline electrodes shall not be redried more than twice.