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Here's a newb question. Every time I run out of or switch wire in my 180, I have to pull out the 10' that's left in the line. Not that I'm cheap or anything but I can't see just tossing 10' of wire out. Other than releasing the tension, pulling it back out the other way and rewinding it on the spool, is there any other way to not waste that 10' of wire?
Reply:Originally Posted by jlamesHere's a newb question. Every time I run out of or switch wire in my 180, I have to pull out the 10' that's left in the line. Not that I'm cheap or anything but I can't see just tossing 10' of wire out. Other than releasing the tension, pulling it back out the other way and rewinding it on the spool, is there any other way to not waste that 10' of wire?
Reply:That's how I do it too.  Just cut the BB off the end first.You could also leave your normal wire in the welder and put the oddball stuff in the spool gun.  Then you would only be wasting 4" unless you wind it back in...My name's not Jim....
Reply:Ya, he's trying to address the issue of wasting the gun length of wire when his spool runs out.Thats how it is when mig welding. There's no stub loss like when stick welding but you have the gun length of wire loss when the spool runs out.If it is solid wire, you could use the gun length of wire for tig filler.JasonLincoln Idealarc 250 stick/tigThermal Dynamics Cutmaster 52Miller Bobcat 250Torchmate CNC tableThermal Arc Hefty 2Ironworkers Local 720
Reply:Sounds good. Now I gotta et a TIG to fill!!!  Thanks for the replies.
Reply:Originally Posted by jlamesSounds good. Now I gotta et a TIG to fill!!!  Thanks for the replies.
Reply:Of course. I'll supply the power. You supply the brains and talent.:-). I've seen some TIG welding on a friends blown hydo race boat; stainless exhaust headers and the welds themselves were a work of art. Perfectly spaced waves I guess you'd call them due no doubt to extreme care in careful fit-up and a talented hand. Boy would I like to weld like that. My first job, that workbench stool, is hammered dog s**t but I'm practicing every night.On another note, I did find a way to really save on wire. I know, it sounds like I shoulda thought of it before but, well, I didn't. If I buy one $60 10# spools instead of ten 1-pound spools at $10. I save $40 and 100 feet of wire by not changing the spools out every 1 pound. Genius, right? So I'm thinking how could I be so stupid as to not see that.
Reply:I would also agree with jlames.I have 2 spools solid wire in a 11 pound spool, and flux in a 2 pound.  Saves money to have a bigger spool.The flux I have a small spool because I rarely use it.  More so incase I run out of gas and cannot get the tank refilled and need to complete a project.