Aluminum Wire Storage

By jwright650 (*****)

Date 11-25-2002 14:41

What size spools are you working with?
John Wright

By mkulikow (*)

Date 11-25-2002 14:45

I will be using both 4" and 8" spools. This is a part time business so I am not prepared to go out and have to spend $200 on one of these. For what I charge for the docks I can throw the spools away when I am done welding. I currently use almost half of a 4" spool on each dock, at $4 its not worth buying an oven. But I can also run 8" spools in my SP-175+ and in that case I would store them.

- Mike

By jwright650 (*****)

Date 11-25-2002 16:01

We have ovens for 60lb. rolls of wire, but that would be a bit pricey for your application. Since you are not using large quanities, I believe I would be tempted to use an old dorm room refridgerator with a 100watt light bulb. Something to mainly keep the wire dry and clean. Something heated, because it might tend to sweat with temp. changes, if not heated.
Post a request in the "Equipment Wanted" section for a used "adjustable" rod oven that you could turn the heat down (to keep your plastic spools from melting). Maybe someone will have one cheap.
Give it try, can't hurt anything to ask,
John Wright

By DGXL

Date 11-25-2002 16:55

An additional comment to what JW mentioned about temperature. The humidity (dew point) is critical to Al electrodes and materials. Storage would include storing above ground , in dry plastic bags, indoors, etc. A controlled atmosphere works fine such as the light bulb in the closet as JW mentioned. A light bulb in the storage locker was all that was needed for aerospace applications (at least it was 15 years ago).

The key is to keep the oxide film to a minimum.