Welder Setup Question

[GreyBeard]

Well, I finally received my Christmas present from my wife:  a new MIG welder.  It's the 175 setup from Eastwood with the spool gun for aluminum, the cart and an autodarkening helmet.  I got an 80 cu ft bottle of 25/75 CO2/Argon yesterday and I started to put it together this evening. 

I got the cart put together and when I started to feed the 4" spool of 0.23" wire I got an instant copper colored rats nest!!!!!     

Man!  That wire came zooming off of the spool!  It sounded like a giant slinky!  I made the mistake of not having my duct tape within reach, so I had to yell for my wife to come out to the garage and rescue me. 

So now that my heart rate is down to normal and I've gotten my wife to quit giggling...  My question is this:  Is this unusual for the spool of wire?  If it's normal, how do I deal with it?  The instructions that came with the machine are worthless.  So I really need some help here.

Thanks,
Dennis

[Sparkplug]

Are you asking how to feed it into the macine? .024 is small wire, you should prob run .030 or .035. To feed it in, put it on roll, open drive door, then un tape, hold it down with 1 finger, and feed it into the roll hole, pretty self explanatory.

[GreyBeard]

So the tension on the feed roller will keep the wire from uncoiling off of the spool?  How much tension should be on the spool to keep it from spinning on the spindle?

[pumkin toy]

So the tension on the feed roller will keep the wire from uncoiling off of the spool?  How much tension should be on the spool to keep it from spinning on the spindle?

put just enough tension on the spool so that it doesnt unwind like it did

[94MtnYote]

Yeah tighten the adjusting nut on the spool so only slight pressure is needed to turn it. And if the welder has a manual there should be lots of priceless info in there. Setup can be a pita but it will be loads of fun in no time!

[pistolbob]

I had almost the same deal. wife got me the lincoln 180. Only my wire ratt nested before I even got it loaded on the machine. 

[ADIDA4X4]

Seen it many times in school. That wire has more spring in it then you would think.

[junya92toy]

It happens, but you wont ever do it again.

[GreyBeard]

LOL, 

Junya, you got that right!  I'll be really careful from now on! 

By the way, this MIG stuff is so much fun!  I'll be working on a new bumper for my wife's Sammy real soon.

Dennis

[yotaneck13]

haha that happened to me last night i wasa so pissed had a 10lb spool completly un wound pita to re wind lol