I just got a Lincoln Electric 125amp MIG welder and I have a question about the usage. I've welded a few times before I bought it so I thought I'd be ok, but I started putting it all together and I just cant keep the flux core wire to stay on the spool. I've never loaded a welder before this, it's always just been ready to go so I'm a little lost. I get everything fed through the feeder system just fine, get everything ready to go, but when I let go of the spool it just instantly turns back on itself tangling up in everything and becoming useless. What do I need to do to keep it from unspooling on me?

 

could be the spool a lot of times when they unspool that roll of wire is done. also check the tenching on the rollers make sure its not lose and letting it lose its tention

 

The rollers grip the wire tight, it's just the spool turns backwards on roller. No way of keeping it from turning backwards either.

 

wasnt to sure. i have one of the harbor frieght speacials haha but thing i like about it is that it holds one of the large rolls so it wieghs enough it doesnt roll back. i believe it has a spring that goes between the roll and the nut to help put tension on it. sorry havnt looked at it in a long time.

 

It's ok. My welder has a large roll adapter too, I might go pick up a large roll to see if that works for me too.

 

stack a washer or two under the wingnut that holds the spool in place then tighten it enough to keep tesion on the spool but not enough that it wont let the spool move.