Millermatic 180 Spool Wire

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I bought a millermatic 180 and I want to know if this machine can be used with a 15kg (weight) wire spool? I think it can fit in the machine but I dont know if the weight can damage it?Diego BelloMillerMatic 180 Im just learning how to weld!  Bogota, Colombia. South America
Reply:Direct from their site: " Uses 4 or 8 in (102 or 203 mm) spools and can be set up to weld with wire sizes .024-.035 in (0.6-0.9 mm) mild/stainless steel and .030-.045 in (0.8-1.2 mm) flux cored. "The 10 or 11lb'ers. come in 8 inch spools but I don't think a 33 lb'er would fit in there. I think they are quite a bit wider.John -  fabricator extraordinaire, car nut!-  bleeding Miller blue! http://www.weldfabzone.com
Reply:Micro is right.  I was just looking at one the other day and the bigger spools will not fit in the case.  The 8" spools that are narrow are about as big a standard size as will fit.Smithboy...if it ain't broke, you ain't tryin'.
Reply:Say you DO fit it into the case.  How long do you think your wire drive motor will last?  It's not designed to pull on a 33# spool.
Reply:Originally Posted by MicroZoneDirect from their site: " Uses 4 or 8 in (102 or 203 mm) spools and can be set up to weld with wire sizes .024-.035 in (0.6-0.9 mm) mild/stainless steel and .030-.045 in (0.8-1.2 mm) flux cored. "The 10 or 11lb'ers. come in 8 inch spools but I don't think a 33 lb'er would fit in there. I think they are quite a bit wider.
Reply:Well I did this,...So far so good...Just make sure there isn´t much friction on the system cause like MAC said, it couldn´t last long... anyway its your call!http://www.weldingweb.com/vbb/showthread...ght=cart+spoolMy Babies: HF Drill pressHF Pipe Bender3   4.5" Black and Decker angle grindersLincoln Electric PROMIG 175that´s it!
Reply:Diego,Don't try to rewind the wire from a big spool onto a smaller spool.  Nothing but trouble and headaches to even try and do that.   Order or buy some 10 pound spool to run in your machine.  Or, put the big spool on an external holder like Elvergon did.
Reply:Originally Posted by MoonRiseDiego,Don't try to rewind the wire from a big spool onto a smaller spool.  Nothing but trouble and headaches to even try and do that.   Order or buy some 10 pound spool to run in your machine.  Or, put the big spool on an external holder like Elvergon did.
Reply:YES, it is tough - you will get a big NEST of wire and never get it correct again.John -  fabricator extraordinaire, car nut!-  bleeding Miller blue! http://www.weldfabzone.com
Reply:Well now I was thinking on fabricate a machine to rewind it. I have an idea that i think could work, but I dont know if the wire must be rewind with some specific tension, or that does not matter?Diego BelloMillerMatic 180 Im just learning how to weld!  Bogota, Colombia. South America
Reply:Originally Posted by dfbelloWell now I was thinking on fabricate a machine to rewind it. I have an idea that i think could work, but I dont know if the wire must be rewind with some specific tension, or that does not matter?
Reply:Originally Posted by RojodiabloWell, you can do it, but I would say yes, you should try to load it under some tension. The problem is: Memory. Steel has a memory. And that wire being loaded backwards is going to want to unwind in rapid fashion every chance it gets. But considering it is all you have to work with, I say you can do it. You will just have to be patient!!!!
Reply:Easiest?  Buy 10-12 pound spools of wire.Next easiest?  Make a wire spool holder that is external to the welder, like Elvergon did.Way on the bottom of choices?  Make a rewinding machine to unspool MIG wire from a 33 pound spool and then rewind it onto an 8 inch diameter (nominal 10-12 pound capacity) spool, taking into account the tension, springyness/'memory', and proper lay of the wire as it is taken off the big spool and rewound onto the smaller spool.
Reply:he he he...before I decided to make my holder I rewounded 5" spools with the 15 kg ones...however I had access to a lathe... and that makes it so easy. I made about 6 spools and I only had trouble with 1. But I used them so fast that I decided to use the external holder. I also rewounded them by hand (yeah, that´s what I call a NEEDED person) and also using a drill. But that was so much slower than with the help of the lathe. It took about 30 mins by hand to just fill the half of it. About 20 mins with the drill to fill half of it too and about 5 minutes to completely fill it with the lathe. After the first time I ran out of wire with the little spool and needed to continue welding I decided I needed to upgrade to a bigger spool. I´ll say if you don´t have access to a lathe, make a external spool holder you´ll have a nice welding cart too and save yourself some desesperation hoursMy Babies: HF Drill pressHF Pipe Bender3   4.5" Black and Decker angle grindersLincoln Electric PROMIG 175that´s it!
Reply:Originally Posted by MoonRiseEasiest?  Buy 10-12 pound spools of wire.Next easiest?  Make a wire spool holder that is external to the welder, like Elvergon did.Way on the bottom of choices?  Make a rewinding machine to unspool MIG wire from a 33 pound spool and then rewind it onto an 8 inch diameter (nominal 10-12 pound capacity) spool, taking into account the tension, springyness/'memory', and proper lay of the wire as it is taken off the big spool and rewound onto the smaller spool.
Reply:I just noticed you are in Bogota.  I lived there for six months in 2005.  Too bad you weren't on the forum then.Actually, I lived in Bogota for three months and in Facatativa for another three.  We were working on the printery for Jehovah's Witnesses.  Have you taken the free tour up there?  Let me know what you think when you get a chance.
Reply:Originally Posted by MAC702I just noticed you are in Bogota.  I lived there for six months in 2005.  Too bad you weren't on the forum then.Actually, I lived in Bogota for three months and in Facatativa for another three.  We were working on the printery for Jehovah's Witnesses.  Have you taken the free tour up there?  Let me know what you think when you get a chance.