DIY Arc rod warmer

[spaffmonkey]

Just a little thing we made at work today and we were amazed how well it works so thought some of you might find it interesting.

Basically we wanted something to warm the welding rods up and we come across an old electric blanket.
Took it apart and got the heating cable out of it. Wrapped that around a length of metal tube that was just shorter that the rods. Wrapped it with some old exhaust banding and just wrapped gaffer tape over it to hold together.

 

[Sarto]

Nice!
How warm is it on full power?

 

[spaffmonkey]

It has 3 settings number 1 tepid 2 warm 3 to hot to pick up bare handed

 

[spaffmonkey]

Just thought I'd mention I did weld a metal disc on the bottom to stop rods sliding out.

 

[Shedendman]

Top idea mate

 

[spaffmonkey]

One other thing to point out the heat cable was from a single bed blanket so a double one might get warmer as cable would be closer together or you could wrap it around two tubes to allow for heating different size rods.

 

[mangocrazy]

I store my rods n the airing cupboard, above the hot water cylinder. Same place I put my bread dough to rise. Keeps 'em nice and dry...

 

[Anguz]

Have you earthed the tube?

 

[pedrobedro]

An old type 40 watt incandescent light bulb in a box worked well enough for us for years.

 

[wristpin]

Airing cupboard for me , together with a couple of spare magnetos for the Avatar.

 

[Parm]

Great bit of bush crafting engineering

 

[jimbo84]

Basic question alert...

I know you need to keep rods dry but does pre-heating them improve their performance?

 

[Farside]

Basic question alert...

I know you need to keep rods dry but does pre-heating them improve their performance?

I found so, with 6013s. Makes them not prone to sticky starts and they definitely flow nicer.
Probably an electronic / inverter arc box will work them better, but for older machines it makes a difference for me anyway.
I don't think it's so much that they're warm, just that they're a long way from being damp.

 

[jimbo84]

I found so, with 6013s. Makes them not prone to sticky starts and they definitely flow nicer.
Probably an electronic / inverter arc box will work them better, but for older machines it makes a difference for me anyway.
I don't think it's so much that they're warm, just that they're a long way from being damp.

I'm on an oxford oil filled and find sticking an issue, especially recently with the cold snap so makes sense. Will give them a try warmed up a bit, cheers.

 

[spaffmonkey]

Have you earthed the tube?

No there is no earth on the tube. The blanket wires are all coated.

 

[spaffmonkey]

Basic question alert...

I know you need to keep rods dry but does pre-heating them improve their performance?

When working outside in the cold it has definitely helped with the rods being warm. ( Using 6013's . On the box of the 7013s we have Say They need to be pre heated.

 

[jimbo84]

Tried pre-heating them this afternoon (stuck them in-front of the gas heater) and they worked a treat, no sticking issues.

 

[colaboy]

No there is no earth on the tube. The blanket wires are all coated.

It may seem overkill but, as someone who teaches City & Guilds PAT testing, please consider earthing the tube. The thin coating on that wire could easily get damaged and the first you would know about it would be reaching in to get a rod.

It would be very simple to do. At least think about it please?

Thanks.

 

[Kent]

Basic question alert...

I know you need to keep rods dry but does pre-heating them improve their performance?

Some rods prefer a bit of damp to being dry It all depends

 

[spaffmonkey]

It may seem overkill but, as someone who teaches City & Guilds PAT testing, please consider earthing the tube. The thin coating on that wire could easily get damaged and the first you would know about it would be reaching in to get a rod.

It would be very simple to do. At least think about it please?

Thanks.

Thanks for you reply colaboy how would you recommend earthing the rod holder? As you say safety first