Protecting my Welder from Damp etc...

[GRW]

Even with my cheapie Clarke Gasless I was always concerned with storing it so it was protected from Damp and damage. More so now I've invested in a new Inverter MiG.
My shed/workshop is basically dry/good - but in the Welsh Winter (any season) weather, humidity/damp air is pretty much a constant, and I want to look after the kit.

What I do atm is the welder resides on the homemade trolley with Gas Bottle to rear. I've made a thin ply drop-over box that fits over the welder (a bit like a sewing machine idea where the box gets lifted off the base for use, but with a separate opening on the front so I can stow the Earth Cable & my welding gloves inside after placement).
Inside the box, I place my homemade "Dessicant Pack" - which is just a section of the Missus' (honest!) Tights, filled with Cat Litter/Oil Dry and tied closed.

I'm wondering if anyone has any better ideas (short of keeping the welder in the house, when my welding wire already resides in the Airing Cupboard )?

I could add a small vivarium type heater mat or panel heater if that's thought to be a worthwhile modification

 

[JMS1972]

Even with my cheapie Clarke Gasless I was always concerned with storing it so it was protected from Damp and damage. More so now I've invested in a new Inverter MiG.
My shed/workshop is basically dry/good - but in the Welsh Winter (any season) weather, humidity/damp air is pretty much a constant, and I want to look after the kit.

What I do atm is the welder resides on the homemade trolley with Gas Bottle to rear. I've made a thin ply drop-over box that fits over the welder (a bit like a sewing machine idea where the box gets lifted off the base for use, but with a separate opening on the front so I can stow the Earth Cable & my welding gloves inside after placement).
Inside the box, I place my homemade "Dessicant Pack" - which is just a section of the Missus' (honest!) Tights, filled with Cat Litter/Oil Dry and tied closed.

I'm wondering if anyone has any better ideas (short of keeping the welder in the house, when my welding wire already resides in the Airing Cupboard )?

I could add a small vivarium type heater mat or panel heater if that's thought to be a worthwhile modification

I run a small peltier effect based dehumidifier 24/7 in my workshop to keep rust away from the mill, welders etc. It's 40watts so not super expensive to run.

Aldi/Lidl do them from time to time.

 

[GRW]

I run a small peltier effect based dehumidifier 24/7 in my workshop to keep rust away from the mill, welders etc. It's 40watts so not super expensive to run.

Aldi/Lidl do them from time to time.

I think that dehumidifier work best in a pretty well-sealed environment?
My workshop has (small) gaps under/around the steel framed doors and my small extractor fan etc - so I think a dehumidifier would be drawing in air and trying to dehumidify the whole of Wales .

I think I'd have to try weatherstripping/sealing all the door jambs and gaps etc first.

 

[JMS1972]

I think that dehumidifier work best in a pretty well-sealed environment?
My workshop has (small) gaps under/around the steel framed doors and my small extractor fan etc - so I think a dehumidifier would be drawing in air and trying to dehumidify the whole of Wales .

I think I'd have to try weatherstripping/sealing all the door jambs and gaps etc first.

I've split my workshop into two the good stuff is away from openings, insulated and dry lined. So pretty sealed.

Maybe make a cupboard you can wheel the weld trolley into and run a dehumidifier in that?

 

[GRW]

I've split my workshop into two the good stuff is away from openings, insulated and dry lined. So pretty sealed.

Maybe make a cupboard you can wheel the weld trolley into and run a dehumidifier in that?

That's sort of the idea (In a miniature way) with the drop-over box and bodgy Dessicant Pack- to create a very small dry micro-environment. It's not "sealed" though, as I'm aware that sometimes you can create more damp/corrosion issues that way, & some airflow can be beneficial.
Also why the thought of adding a panel heater inside the box.

 

[JMS1972]

That's sort of the idea (In a miniature way) with the drop-over box and bodgy Dessicant Pack- to create a very small dry micro-environment. It's not "sealed" though, as I'm aware that sometimes you can create more damp/corrosion issues that way, & some airflow can be beneficial.
Also why the thought of adding a panel heater inside the box.

I'm sure that would work fine too. I thought a small cupboard might be more convenient. The peltier dehumidifiers do put out warm air so would have the same effect.

 

[GRW]

I'm sure that would work fine too. I thought a small cupboard might be more convenient. The peltier dehumidifiers do put out warm air so would have the same effect.

I like the idea... space in my wee shed us at a premium, which is the issue. I have as much as poss on wheels/castors so I can swap stuff around to bring out what I want to use, into space, then "park" etc.
Putting a box on top of the wheeled welder trolley seemed the easiest way.

 

[mr haynes]

If concerned i would keep the mig in the house, protect your investment.
Leave the rest in the shed.
The inverters are not really that big nor heavy

 

[gaz1]

my welder is in main house

it has its issues swapping from a warm house to cold air

rust well mine still looks brand new

 

[tom2207]

id be sorting out the root cause of the problem rather than a spot fix ....

the same rising tide lifts all the boats .

ie fix the draughts and insulation and everything in the workshop will benefit rather than having a toasty welder and a rusty tool box.

 

[RonA]

I run a small peltier effect based dehumidifier 24/7 in my workshop to keep rust away from the mill, welders etc. It's 40watts so not super expensive to run.

Aldi/Lidl do them from time to time.

I have a similar Aldi device in my Caravan, amazing how much moisture they mop up.
RonA

 

[fizzy]

my welder is in main house

it has its issues swapping from a warm house to cold air

rust well mine still looks brand new

View attachment 318829View attachment 318830View attachment 318831

My Clarke has lived in cold damp warehouses for 20 years and still looks like new.
It was 94% humidity a few days ago.

 

[Bobupndown]

I'm sure the majority of our welders live in cold and humid garages and sheds, they are machines designed for it , not priceless artifacts

 

[tom2207]

I'm sure the majority of our welders live in cold and humid garages and sheds, they are machines designed for it , not priceless artifacts

Ive got bumpers on the front of my car ,,, but I try not to use them .

 

[GRW]

I'm sure the majority of our welders live in cold and humid garages and sheds, they are machines designed for it , not priceless artifacts

True, but I think there's no harm in trying to store it as best I can. It's not a big effort and it just might help....

 

[GRW]

id be sorting out the root cause of the problem rather than a spot fix ....

the same rising tide lifts all the boats .

ie fix the draughts and insulation and everything in the workshop will benefit rather than having a toasty welder and a rusty tool box.

Funnily enough, I have just finished injecting silicon sealant around the door frame reveals this morning

 

[Gareth J]

What you've done sounds pretty effective. Any reason to think it isn't? Ever condensation on it when you lift the lid? How regularly do you have to dry the dessicant?

 

[Anguz]

Welder in house, wife in shed

I have a small 10? Watt panel heater in mine sems to work

 

[GRW]

What you've done sounds pretty effective. Any reason to think it isn't? Ever condensation on it when you lift the lid? How regularly do you have to dry the dessicant?

A similar thing with my old Clarke Gasless worked ok (though that was kept in its original cardboard box with no gas bottle to faff with).
I'm just being a bit OTT maybe as it is a new inverter welder

 

[frank horton]

on my MIG I fitted a protected bulb holder and used a 11w spiral flu bulb...left it on 24/7......
got sick of thowing away rolls of rusty MIG wire.....my workshop was always damp due to being a converted water mill....
worked for me........including the same for all my machines..........