A method and apparatus for densely packing wire (11) in a storage drum (62) is provided. A capstan (12) is provided for pulling welding wire (11) at a set rotational velocity. The welding wire (11) is then provided to a rotatable laying head (21) which receives the wire (11) from the capstan (12), and in turn rotates with a storage drum (62) placed on a rotatable turntable (54). As the welding wire (11) is placed within the turntable (54) in layers, the turntable (54) is indexed relative to the storage drum axis and the rotational velocity of the capstan (12) and laying head (21) is altered, which causes the welding wire (11) to be placed in a layer different from the first layer. This indexing is continued until the storage drum (62) is full, forming alternating bands of welding wire (11) to increase the packing density of the storage drum (62).