OK, I cant keep My mouth shut any longer.
There 2 types of moisture being addressed here, free moisture and combined moisture, and they are not the same.
Combined moisture is what You are removing with the high temperatures of a 7018 bake out.
Free moisture is what You remove with the pre bake lower [roughly boiling point] temperatur mentioned in the above literature.
Free moisture adds hydrogen to a rod, influences how it burns, how the fluxes work and will cause oxidation of the wire and additives in the flux over time.
Combined moisture adds hydrogen to the weld, so You don't want any in a LH rod.
Celulistic rods are depending on some combined moisture for proper results. That is why You shouldn't bake them at high temperature.
Where drying of celulistic rods is allowed, the temperature is lower, in the range that will remove mostly free moisture.
Have any of You ever measured the total moisture content of the celulistic rods that You determined to be too dry compaired to that of a new, fresh off the manufacturing line new rod? As Shane points out, they will be pretty "dry" and will not have free moisture.
Have any of You seen any commentary from the manufacturers regarding over drying of electrodes stored at ambient temperatures? I am pretty sure it couldn't happen where I live, and have My doubts about anywhere els as well.
With trgards to celulistic electrodes, if You had stored them at 100-120F as per Lincoln, I doubt You would be having this problem.
"If exposed to humid air for long periods of time, stick electrodes from opened containers may pick up enough moisture to affect operating characteristics or weld quality.
If moisture appears to be a problem, store electrodes from the opened containers in heated cabinets at 100 to 120°F (40 to 50°C)."
http://www.lincolnelectric.com/knowledge/articles/content/storing.aspThis is worth every bit You paid for it,