Out of wire - changing spool.

[dragoneggs]

At least when that happens (if I'm feeling cheap) I'll unclamp the drive and free up the spool and wind it back onto the spool.

Ha ha... that I haven't done but it has crossed my mind but then I think... hey I can use it for something! This is why I have so much crap lying around in my little shop that I can never find when I need it. :laughing:

 

[Tractorguy24]

At least when that happens (if I'm feeling cheap) I'll unclamp the drive and free up the spool and wind it back onto the spool.

I always do that. Or when I set my gas flow, I unclamp the drive to not waste any wire. I guess, I always "feel cheap"

 

[dragoneggs]

I always do that. Or when I set my gas flow, I unclamp the drive to not waste any wire. I guess, I always "feel cheap"

That has never crossed my mind either. Jeez... but knowing me, I would unclamp it, fiddle with the gas, forget, and then curse because the trigger wasn't working. :mur:

 

[BukitCase]

"knowing me, I would unclamp it, fiddle with the gas, forget, and then curse because the trigger wasn't working"

Mark, that's one advantage of your having the OLDER MM211 - for setting the gas flow, just flip the spool gun switch to spool gun; it disables the wire feed in the machine, but NOT the gas flow IIRC... Steve

 

[dragoneggs]

"knowing me, I would unclamp it, fiddle with the gas, forget, and then curse because the trigger wasn't working"

Mark, that's one advantage of your having the OLDER MM211 - for setting the gas flow, just flip the spool gun switch to spool gun; it disables the wire feed in the machine, but NOT the gas flow IIRC... Steve

Gonna have to experiment this! My spool gun fo aluminum work is still in untouched condition. Might as well figure out how to get use out of the switch until then.

 

[Tractorguy24]

That has never crossed my mind either. Jeez... but knowing me, I would unclamp it, fiddle with the gas, forget, and then curse because the trigger wasn't working. :mur:

Cant say it hasn't happened to me, But the side cover standing wide open does usually remind me

 

[yomax4]

The answer is work smart, befriend a few factory reps, get your wire, gas, consumables and abrasives for free.

 

[flyerdan]

At the fence company I'd go through a roll of wire about every 3-4 weeks; I made a puller from a piece of .375 drop rod with a slot in the end and I'd pull the wire with a drill press and wind it into springs. ER70S makes surprisingly good springs, especially for torsion uses.
I had a Miller feeder with both a wire feed and a purge button, that should be standard on all wire feed machines. Makes threading a new spool and setting the flowmeter easy and waste free.

 

[Raspy]

My mig wire driver runs when I'm tig welding on my multi-function Everlast. Several times I have gotten done with a nice weld to look over and find a big coil of wire hanging out of the gun. Doh! Gotta remember to unclamp the driver.

Now the coils are accumulating on a big nail over the bench. But, at least, it's nice
wire.

I also made the mistake of cutting the wire near the spool. Yikes! Instant rats nest.

 

[mikehaugen]

I guess if you were really good you could weld the ends of the wire together?