How to Load a Welding Wire

MIG, which stands for Metal Inert Gas, is a type of welding in which a spool of steel wire feeds from a machine through a liner and out of the tip of a MIG gun. The tip is electrically charged, and when the welder pulls the trigger of the MIG gun, the wire melts for the weld puddle. Read on and learn how to load wire for MIG welding.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Make sure you have the right kind of wire for the welding you plan to do. For example, use steel wire to weld steel and aluminum wire to weld aluminum.

2. Remove the nozzle from the MIG gun, then unscrew the contact tip.

3. Load the spool of wire onto the machine so that the feed picks up the end of the wire. In other words, make sure the spool of wire faces the right direction.

4. Feed the end of the spool of wire into the guide tube on the machine. Push the wire through the guide tube and into the end of the second tube.

5. Set the tensioner device. Tensioners vary from one machine to another, so follow the machine manufacturer's instructions.

6. Turn on the machine. Press the trigger on the MIG gun until the wire feeds all the way through the machine and comes out the end of the MIG gun. Screw the contact tip back on the MIG gun, then replace the nozzle. You are now ready to weld.

Tips & Warnings

• Make sure the contact tip you use is the same size as the wire you load (for example, 0.6 mm).