General Recommendations

General Recommendations for covered electrodes

Welding Electrode can meet promised and expected properties only when treated according to the storage and handling recommendations of the producer.

We recommend following the individual and validated technical rules, regulations, recommendations and standards during transport, storage and handling. Mechanical damage and moisture pick up should be avoided.

Storage Recommendations

  • Store at ≤ 35°C and Humidity ≤ 60% in a dry store.
  • Place packages on a pallet, not directly on the floor.
  • Welding electrodes should be stored in their unopened and undamaged original packaging.
  • The environment must be clean, free of dust and dry.
  • The storage management should follow the first in first out principle to avoid over aging.
  • Covered electrodes in opened or damaged packaging must be stored in a separate, heated room at higher temperatures.
  • Direct exposure to sunlight has to be avoided.

Shelf Life

Welding covered electrodes can be stored under the above conditions and in their unopened and undamaged standard packaging ,The shelf life will be as the following table :

Filler MetalPackageShelf Life
Low Hydrogen ElectrodesVacuum Bags5 yrs
Carton Bags3 yrs
Low Alloy ElectrodesVacuum Bags5 yrs
Carton Bags3 yrs
Stainless Steel ElectrodesVacuum Bags5 yrs
Carton Bags3 yrs
Rutile ElectrodesCarton Bags3 yrs
Hardfacing ElectrodesVacuum Bags5 yrs
Carton Bags3 yrs
Cellulose ElectrodeSealed Cans5 yrs

Re-drying and handling

Depending on the type of electrode, the base material used and the application, covered electrodes need to be protected against moisture pick up.

The re-drying time and temperature before use depends on type, kind of packaging and application. Further information is given on the electrode package.

Covered electrodes where no re-drying recommendation is given can be dried at 100 – 120 °C / 1 h. Cellulosic Electrodes must not be re-dried.

Electrodes exposed directly to water, oil or grease must not be used.
If the H2-content in the weld deposit is limited to max. 5 ml / 100 g, re-drying is necessary: 300 to 350 °C / 2 h.

Before re-drying, the electrodes should be removed from their packages with the appropriate care and laid in the preheated (80 – 100 °C) baking oven.

Under no circumstances should the stacked height of the electrodes exceed 40 – 50 mm. The electrodes should stay for at least 2 h in the oven after reaching the re-quired re-drying temperature. Re-dryed electrodes can be stored at 100 – 200 °C in a drying cabinet up to four weeks and in a quiver up to 12 hours.

Covered electrodes should be re-dryed not more than two times.

Not NecessaryNot allowed300 – 350 °C / 2 h
ELKADESIA OHVI E 6013ELKADESIA CEL E 6010ELKADESIA I E 7018
ELKADESIA IM E 7018-1
ELKADESIA NG E 6013ELKADESIA CEL E 7010-G,P1ELKADESIA E 7015
ELKADESIA E 7018-1H4
70 – 80 °C / 1 hELKADESIA CEL E 8010-G,P1ELKADESIA E 7018-A1
ELKADESIA E 7016-1
ELKADESIA AG E 6013ELKADESIA CEL E 9010-G,P1ELKADESIA E 8018-G
ELKADESIA E 8018-C1
ELKADESIA E 8018-C3
ELKADESIA E 8018-B2
ELKADESIA E 9018-B3
ELKADESIA E 9018-G
ELKADESIA E 308L-16
ELKADESIA E 309L-16
ELKADESIA E 316L-16
ELKADESIA E 317L-16

Low-hydrogen basic electrodes should be re-dried before use (1st re-drying cycle) in the baking oven at 350°C, for about 2 hours (not needed for Vacuum Pac). When the electrodes are initially placed in the baking oven, the temperature should not be greater than half the re-drying temperature (±170 °C). The electrodes should be held at that temperature for ½ hour before heating the electrode to the final temperature. The re-drying time is measured from the point at which the re-drying temperature has been reached (350 °C). Do not stack more than four layers of electrodes in the baking oven. Cellulose electrodes must not be re-dried.

Re-drying electrodes will be placed in the holding oven at a steady temperature of approximately 150 °C. This intermediate storage is aimed at avoiding moisture pick-up in the coating of low-hydrogen electrodes. Storage in the holding oven should not exceed 10 days’ maximum total holding time.

The remaining basic electrodes from the field should be re-dried at 300 °C for about 2 hours, in accordance with Clause 4.1.3. The total number of re- drying cycles will be limited to three (3) cycles. If, by mistake, during the re-drying process, the time exceeds 10 hours, the basic electrodes will be discarded. Electrodes which remain unused after the 3rd re-drying cycle will be discarded.

Vacuum Pack

Electrodes in Vacuum Pack will not pick up any moisture during storage. They require no re-drying before use, provided that the package is undamaged. This is indicated by a vacuum in the package.

Storage

  • Store at ≤ 50°C.
  • Place packages on a pallet within 5 rows only, not directly on the floor.
  • Keep the package is undamaged.

Handling and Using

  • Place the Packages on a pallet within 5 rows only, not directly on the floor.
  • Handle the single inner metal foil with special care (not to be thrown or dropped from distances or heights of more than 30 cm).
  • open the protective foil at one end.
  • Leave the foil on the package.
  • Do not take out more than one electrode at a time.
  • Ensuring that the remaining electrodes are still protected inside the package.
  • in case more than six hours have passed since opening the package, the re-drying procedure is carried out at a temperature of 300 – 350 °C for two hours.
https://kadesiawelding.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/General-Recommendation-Img1.jpg

Comparison of procedures for dry electrodes in a workshop between normal packaging and Vacuum pack