How are you storing your consumables??

I'm about to order up a fresh supply of consumables. the stuff I had used before i had gotten from work as a loose collection of rods and tungsten. no bags, nothing. I put it on top of my shelf next to the welder. most of the rod I have left is starting to get surface rust. I'm guessing it is because it is sitting out where it can get covered in grinding dust etc. I was thinking of making a rack on the side of the welding cart out of pvc tubing for each size and type of rod. This would keep them covered up and dry. maybe some sort of small fishing type box to store the tungsten and collets etc??

show me how you guys are handling it!

I've got 3 sections of 1.5" steel tubing welded to my cart for tig rod. they aren't sealed, but I haven't had any issues with surface rust, but I'm also in central texas where 'high' humidity is somewhere in the 65% range. I keep my tungstens, cups, and collets (as well as a lot of other crap) in the 6-drawer cabinet on the cart.
Attachment 3715

I use PVC pipe for storing the rods and made a removable rack to hang them on the side of my cart.

I also use 3/4" pvc pipe to store the tungstens with a removable rack to hold them on my cart. If I'm doing a lot of welding I just grab the tungsten tube and put it in my pocket for easy changeouts.

PVC is your best bet because it's cheap yet functional. You don't need to use screw on caps, just the slip ons will work fine.

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Originally Posted by ogorir

I've got 3 sections of 1.5" steel tubing welded to my cart for tig rod. they aren't sealed, but I haven't had any issues with surface rust, but I'm also in central texas where 'high' humidity is somewhere in the 65% range. I keep my tungstens, cups, and collets (as well as a lot of other crap) in the 6-drawer cabinet on the cart.
Attachment 3715

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I wouldn't want them sealed per say, but covered up in something that won't promote rust like a steel tube. new england summer humidity is way high..... have to protect everything that you store just from the AIR!

I was even thinking about putting some of the those little bags that absorb moisture in each of the containers I use??

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Originally Posted by Grizzly1944

I use PVC pipe for storing the rods and made a removable rack to hang them on the side of my cart.

I also use 3/4" pvc pipe to store the tungstens with a removable rack to hold them on my cart. If I'm doing a lot of welding I just grab the tungsten tube and put it in my pocket for easy changeouts.

PVC is your best bet because it's cheap yet functional. You don't need to use screw on caps, just the slip ons will work fine.

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I like the removable idea. I had envisioned solidly mounting a something like a 3/4" pvc pipe vertically with a 1" capped pipe that would slide over the top. when you pull off the larger diameter tubing it would leave something like 12" of the rod exposed.

if a make a mount for the tube that clips in place instead I can turn it over if I put a piece back that is shorter than the tube. I like it.

HI
Here is what I use to store my collets, cups, and back caps plastic devided box from Home Depot or HF. I have one for normal tig stuff and another for gas lens. They are in a draw at the bottom of my cart. I keep the tungsten in the plastic box they came in with the other boxes in the draw too. I have two 1-1/2" PVC tube on the wall near the welder I cut the rods in half and a small magnet on the wall to hold short tig rods (speaker magnet). Can not understand the aluminum rods keep falling off????

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Originally Posted by acourtjester

HI
Here is what I use to store my collets, cups, and back caps plastic devided box from Home Depot or HF. I have one for normal tig stuff and another for gas lens. They are in a draw at the bottom of my cart. I keep the tungsten in the plastic box they came in with the other boxes in the draw too. I have two 1-1/2" PVC tube on the wall near the welder I cut the rods in half and a small magnet on the wall to hold short tig rods (speaker magnet). Can not understand the aluminum rods keep falling off????

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that container is exactly what I was thinking for my torch parts. I don't think the magnet idea would be very good for my garage. the magnets on my welding table are covered in metal shavings as it is, I don't think constant exposure to that would be good for my rod "ends"

maybe I should check to see if my aluminum rod sticks to a magnet, might give me an "excuse" for my aluminum welding lol

I use a tool box box made out of plastic from home depot. It has all the storage I need and it was pretty cheap. Has more than enough room for my torch and cables, my consumables and even tools.

that's an interesting thought steve. I didn't even think about storage of non-used cables. I can already see my welding cart getting all sorts of shelves and racks added to the sides!