Fine rust on mig wire

Anyone have trouble with their mig welding wire
getting a thin rust on it and not feeding threw
gun. Just wondering how you fix the problem other
then having a supper dry climate. Thks.

About the only thing you can try is to reel off a couple layers and hope the rust didn't penetrate. I've had brand new wire that was rusty. Sometimes it's not your fault.

When I was working in a production shop we would put packages of silicon beads(like you find packaged with cameras and computers) to absorb moisture with the wire that cut down a lot of problems!
Ypop

put a cloths pin with some steel wool between the spool and feed rolls. maybe 400grit paper as well.

I store mine inside till usage.

Thanks for the tips!

The welding shop sells a pair of wipers that clip onto the wire in front of the feed rollers. Like Texas said, steel wool or a scotch brite and a couple of wooden clothes pins work pretty good too.

Many of the welding old-timers had a defunct refrigerator with a light bulb in it, to keep arc welding rod and other stuff from drawing moisture. Kind of a pain to re-thread your MIG every time you want to use it, but might be a decent trade-off if your use is not frequent.

I use these, although I can't say for sure that they help.
Weld Aid wire lube pads

DC, I have the same problem. I don't use the mig very often, unheated damp cool shop etc...I now fold a piece of scotch brite over the wire before the roller and clip it with one of the large paper clip things.

I took better care of it when I firs got the welder. I ran a low wattage nightlight on an extension cord into the wire compartment inside the welder when in storage during the damp weather. It actually worked pretty good - acted as its own hot box.

I think I will hook it back up as I was so fed up with my last spool of wire I threw it out. But I needed to do a pump repair and weld 32' linier feet of 12 ga plate onto an angle frame. Did I mention it was Sunday. I had to borrow my welder neighbour's spool and replaced it a few days later.

That was three weeks ago. On Christmas day I had a couple quiet hours in the shop so I though I would make a couple quick repairs on a trailer frame. The new wire worked...but I could feel the wire dragging a bit. Just a hint of new oxidation, doesn't take much. I probably should replace the liner too. ;>(

Good luck, Grant

PS my welder guy takes his spool out...but then he is always changing wire anyway.

Was wondering if a low wattage light would work, Thanks for your tips.

Those look interesting, may try some. Thanks

Mark, I don't use my mig that often. I used the device you posted and it came with a can of lub. I finally got rid of my large spool of rusted wire and purchased asmaller 2# spool. It's still nice to use the device you shown to keep wire lubed.
George

Is this flux core? That's what I usually have in my mig for farm repairs. I never considered that it may rust. Now I have something else that will break down!!!

I plugged the cord into a cheap timer too...so that it wouldn't run all the time. I was originally thinking of a fire hazard, but it never really got too hot and it was in a metal box - the welder.

I'm going to hook mine back up after some welding today. I'm glad you brought this topic up.
Grant