The dessicant packs are OK for absorbing ambient moisture that may become
present in the air in the package, but the bake is needed in order to cause
the moisture in the rod to effuse.

"Andrew H. Wakefield" wrote in message
...
Sometime back (maybe a year or more ago) I seem to remember some
discussion on this newsgroup about using some of the silica (?) crystals
that absorb moisture to help keep rods dry. Anybody tried this? Results?

Andy

"carl mciver" wrote in message
ink.net...
I keep my 7018 in an ammo can with a good seal. Got a little fancier
and it now has a removable power connector and a 100W reptile aquarium
heater bulb keeping things a nice 132 degrees when I plug the cord in,
and
very dry after I take it out. All in all I think it cost me less than
twenty bucks.

"Pete Keillor" wrote in message
...
| On Tue, 31 May 2005 19:26:52 -0700, footy wrote:
|
| If you are welding to a code like AWS D1.1, unless the 7018 came out
of
| a hermetically sealed container, you have to dry it before using it.
| The boxes at Home Depot are not hermetically sealed. The flux will
| absorb moisture from the atmosphere even though there is plastic wrap
| around the box. The moisture will result in increased probability of
| porosity, hydrogen embrittlement, etc. in the weld. If you aren't
| welding to code, it is up to you. It may or may not make a
significant
| difference in the weld. I would consider it unwise to ignore the
| manufacturer's instructions welding anything to which liability might
| attach, like a trailer hitch. FWIW I have seen successful bend tests
| done on welds made with 7018 that came of non-hermetically sealed
| containers of dubious history.
|
| Thanks for all the input. I think I'll leave 7018 alone, at least
| until I build a heat treating oven. If I have time, I'm going to give
| Watlow a call today. They have new pre-insulated heater panels with
| the heating elements close to the surface. It'll be interesting to
| see what they cost.
|
| Pete Keillor