Abstract: A welding wire package comprising a cylindrical drum with a central axis, multiple layers of looped welding wire defining a wire stack to be paid out, said body having an upper ring shaped surface with an outer cylindrical surface generally covering or overhanging the wire stack and an inner cylindrical surface defining a central bore concentric with the drum axis and a flexible permanent magnet retainer ring on top of the upper ring shaped surface wherein the retainer ring allows welding wire to be paid from under the ring upwardly from the central bore.