LH rods have to be stored in an oven, after the hermetically sealed original container has been opened.
I suggest that you purchase one of the smaller ovens for your truck.
Also, if you purchase your rods in a smaller 5 or 10 pound box, rather than a 50 pound can, you can store the rods in unopened hermetically sealed containers until you need them.
The reason why this is crucial is to prevent under bead cracking in the heat affected zone. Underbead cracking is caused by hydrogen, derived from moisture in the rod flux, absorbing into the base metal. This has a tendency to cause cracks in the HAZ that are not immediately apparent as they are generally underneath the bead where you can't see them, or detect them with PT, MT or RT testing. Usually, there are only two ways to detect them, one is by UT, the other is by later on, after you have long left the job, the weldment falls apart as the underbead cracks have propagated or grown.
Unfortunately, many contractors generally ignore this rule, either due to ignorance or because they just don't give a damn.
As a CWI, or someone who knows the hazard potential of this and other defective welding practices, it makes me nervous when I go into a welded structure or building and see welded moment connections, especially when weld defects can be easily seen. It makes me wonder if this is the day that these weldments are going to fail. It has a tendency to make a person paranoid.
So, the point is, please rise above the numerous jerks out there that just don't give a damn. Do things the right way, store your rods as they're supposed to be.
Tim
I keep mine in ammo boxes, (22 millimeter I think?) I've got three of them. and i have a spot on my truck to put one ammo box, if I need more I just get another box and throw them on the back of the truck and roll. They are water proof. The only prob is with the new boxes of rods...they are to long. I just cut three (tin boxes) shorter with tin snips and move the new rods to those boxes.
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