Darren, that reminds me...... I need to go through my scrap bucket and make a couple of those myself. I bought some aluminum bronze filler rod a year ago to help get a better ground on them after seeing Jody's mod that he did on his. Another one of those "I'll get to it someday" projects. 
Last week I fought with some old stick electrodes that have been sitting in a drawer for quite awhile. They simply vaporized when I tried to weld with them, and I had to run to the local hardware to pick up some fresh rods. Well, they weren't so 'fresh' either.
I finally broke down and ordered a rod oven in the hopes that I can salvage the electrodes that I have. I think the manufacturers should be required to sell vacuum sealed "six-packs" of stick welding rods.
Last week I fought with some old stick electrodes that have been sitting in a drawer for quite awhile. They simply vaporized when I tried to weld with them, and I had to run to the local hardware to pick up some fresh rods. Well, they weren't so 'fresh' either.
I finally broke down and ordered a rod oven in the hopes that I can salvage the electrodes that I have. I think the manufacturers should be required to sell vacuum sealed "six-packs" of stick welding rods.
Willie