mig welding question

I've got a welding problem that is driving me batty! It all started after I changed to a new spool of .030 wire. When the wire feeds out it wants to wander and spin around and not come out straight. If you point your finger and make circles with it that is how it comes out of the nozzle.I've tried new contact tip , new liner , adjusted the feed rolls several ways (tight , loose , in between) new wire lube pads...could it be a funky spool of wire?.....not having any fun. When I lay a bead down I can't keep it from wandering.....any ideas?

 

Well, that's a new one on me,is this happening whilst you weld?

 

it sounds like you've covered all the bases. I've never had that issue. Is it a different brand of wire?
It isn't harbor freight wire is it?

 

No it's air liquide brand wire in a miller 210

 

I bought several spools of wire from a salvage place several years ago at a "Good" price and it did the same thing. Several of the rolls I was able to use about half the roll and then it started. My bet is Funky roll of wire.I have always been scared of low priced wire since but never had the problem again even with Harbor Freight wire.

 

either the spool of wire was marked wrong and you have the wrong size wire or you need to replace the tip as it's worn. had this happen to me and i had the wrong size tip in the gun thanks to an employee.

 

Thanks for the quick replies!...I suspect that it is a bad spool.....I'll change it and try another brand.......no cheap stuff!

 

Just take it back to place you bought it. If it was a welding supply, bet it won't be the first time they saw a bad spool and they should replace it with no question.

 

did you see if the wire would slip thru a .023" tip? My guess is it's either mis-labled or it's a funky spool. Either try a smaller tip or change the spool out.

 

Measure the wire to make sure it is the same as the tip......like the others said.

 

I have had that happen before, how many hours on the welder? If the welder has alot of hours, the plastic tube that the wire is fed through develops a groove from the wire rubbing in it and needs to be replaced.

Also stand out in front of the welder, and with the gun in your hand and the leads pulled taught, shake it up and down a few times as well as in a circular motion.

Doing this helps to realign the feed tube, gas and wire leads. I was told to do this by several welders in the past, and it seems to work.

Whenever possible keep the welding lead in as straight line as possible, no loops os s shapes.

 

Bad roll of wire..It was wound twisted.

 

I go through many spools of wire at work, and I've also had this problem. When the wire corkscrews like that... like others have said, it's because it was poorly wound on the spool.
When purchasing wire, try to buy "PRECISION LAYER WOUND" wire to avoid getting that crappy stuff.

 

Years ago I had the same problem. Mentioned it to the welding supply and they said to bring back that spool as one shipment had everyone tearing their hair out. They replaced it and problem cleared up. It has to be a very remote circumstance as at the time I was going through 2 spools of .035 wire a week.

Frank

 

Thanks for all the replies!....I was going a bit mental trying different things....I've changed lots of spools before and never run into this.....Thanks again!