Changing Mig Wire

[CJONE]

Cut the bent end off - problem solved.

Never had an issue with feeding anything through a mig except for 4043 (aluminum) through my 30' Push-Pull gun. Talk about a pain! Gotta have the line stretched out straight or it'll have too much resistance and kink at the feeder before it gets out to the gun. And that's with a Teflon liner.

WORD! on that. I don't know what would be worse changing small spoolgun reels all the time or fighting with a long gun/lead. I did learn to blow out the liner when using aluminum. I normally have to fix a misfeed when the tip screws up so I learned to blow the liner out with compressed air each time, it helps a bunch. CJ

 

[CJONE]

Take the tip out of the gun, load up your new spool (keeping tension on it), open drive rolls, feed wire (with clean cut end) into the liner a couple inches, close drive rollers, pull trigger and wait for wire to poke out the end of the gun, put tip back on, cut excess wire, get back to welding.

In 15 years, from 120v hobbyist (junk), to the highest end digital feeders made - this method has never failed me.

+1 Never had a issue with steel. I do use the felt wiper at home. Welder is in my basement garage and it is a damp area so the wire will get a slight covering of rust if it sits awhile. The wiper helps with that. CJ

 

[Shield Arc]

I don't see what all the hoopla is about changing spools. It is not a difficult task

:thumbsup::thumbsup:

Mostly dealing with Lincoln LN-22s, and LN-25s. Lincoln must have figured little kids were the ones who would be changing the wire spools. Talk about tight quarters trying to get your hands inside the feeder to work. Very unusual for the companies to buy self shielded wire smaller than 5/64-inch. So feeding it into the gun was no problem, but 9 times out of 10 the wire would jam just before going into the gooseneck, let alone the contact tip.

 

[/pine]

What I can't believe is the condescending overtone in some of the replies to a valid issue...
It's not a major issue and nobody said it was...The OP offered a tip that solves an issue that may or may not occur to everyone...

Add a few factors...aging eyesight, a welder not accessible at work bench level, poor light etc., etc...and usually working with one hand (while the other is on the spool)...
Removing the torch lead/liner does make it easier/quicker at least with smaller spooled wire...and I don't care how many times you cut the end off a 2# spool of flux core wire...it's still going to have a slight arc to it...no getting around it period...!

 

[Big Barn]

:thumbsup::thumbsup:

Mostly dealing with Lincoln LN-22s, and LN-25s. Lincoln must have figured little kids were the ones who would be changing the wire spools. Talk about tight quarters trying to get your hands inside the feeder to work. Very unusual for the companies to buy self shielded wire smaller than 5/64-inch. So feeding it into the gun was no problem, but 9 times out of 10 the wire would jam just before going into the gooseneck, let alone the contact tip.

Haha. JUST personally experienced the LN25's "tight quarters" with .068 wire on the 25# spool.

Terry

 

[Jim Timber]

What I can't believe is the condescending overtone in some of the replies to a valid issue...
<snip>
...and I don't care how many times you cut the end off a 2# spool of flux core wire...it's still going to have a slight arc to it...no getting around it period...!

2# spool is small enough you can hold it in your left hand and feed the end into the liner before attaching it to the feeder.

What gets me is how some of you can't handle being told how your problem isn't a problem because we've already found ways to make it not a problem but you seem bent on insisting that since you couldn't figure it out that somehow we're demeaning you. We've given you the solution, but you still want to whine about it.

Just being blunt and sincere like someone's sig line claims they are.

 

[ovrszd]

2# spool is small enough you can hold it in your left hand and feed the end into the liner before attaching it to the feeder.

What gets me is how some of you can't handle being told how your problem isn't a problem because we've already found ways to make it not a problem but you seem bent on insisting that since you couldn't figure it out that somehow we're demeaning you. We've given you the solution, but you still want to whine about it.

Just being blunt and sincere like someone's sig line claims they are.

Pretty good for a guy from Maine.......

 

[Jim Timber]

Pretty good for a guy from Maine.......

I wish we had lobstah here!

 

[ovrszd]

I wish we had lobstah here!

Glad you got it.....

 

[arkydog]

i want to thank everyone on here that replied. i like the information about blowing out the liner and about using felt or an unused cigarette filter butt on the wire. whether the replies were pos or neg they were informal which is what this thread is meant to be.

thanks again rob

any other hints or help appreciated!