Welding Consumable Shelf Life

[pvesseleng]

Is there any shelf life for welding consumable (excluding electrodes)?
Thanks

 

[unclesyd]

What do you have specifically in mind?

 

[metengr]

For wire and inserts, the answer is no provided proper storage is followed. I have been to many vendor shops and one of the first places I wish to see is the storage room for welding wire and electrodes.

 

[hogan666]

Another consideration is the code the work is being performed to. Some call for limits on this. FCAW can pick up moisture.

 

[Dinosaur]

My biggest concern is that low hydrogen electrodes do not get moisture. Keep them in the can and then in the oven.

 

[racookpe1978]

If I find an open can of 7018 electrodes in my field or shop shift inspections (they have obviously been out for more than just overnight), can I "restore" them to use by reheating back in the oven?

Or are they scrap? Is there a practical limit on "re-heats" and still avoid H2 embrittlement in the final weld?

6011 and 6013 are less sensitive to embrittlement, but can I keep them at the same temperature as 7018 without damaging their electrode cover?

Robert

 

[hogan666]

AWS D1.1 allows the re-baking of lo-hi SMAW electrodes once. See AWS D1.1 (08) 5.3.2 to 5.3.2.4. In my shop if the electrode have been re-baked then I have the exposed end painted orange.

 

[Dinosaur]

Also, the low hydrogen rods used in our work have an exposure life of 4 or 8 hours. If they have been out for a whole shift, they are probably "done". Good luck with that ...