Consumables

How should I store my welder and consumables?

Quick answer

Store welders dry and dust-covered (a bin liner does the job), rods sealed and off concrete, wire in their bags with desiccant, and cylinders upright, chained and valve-closed. Moisture and dust kill more gear than arc hours do.

· · Technical guidance compiled from trade practice and manufacturer data; our source-verification program is in progress — see our editorial policy.

The routine

  • Cover the machine between sessions — grinding dust is electronics poison
  • Rod packets sealed; bake damp rods per packet instructions before structural work
  • MIG wire: keep the spool covered, tension released off the drive rolls
  • Cylinders: chained upright, valves closed, caps on for transport — it's law and physics