A coiled supply of welding wire in combination with a container. The container has a main body defining an upwardly opening receptacle with bottom wall and a radially inwardly facing surface on a peripheral wall extending upwardly from the bottom wall. The container has a top opening for accessing the coiled supply of welding wire within the receptacle. The container has a lid that at least partially blocks the top opening. The lid has a guide opening through which a free end of the welding wire is directed from the receptacle to externally thereof and through which the welding wire in the coiled supply of welding wire is drawn to cause the welding wire to pay off of the coiled supply of welding wire. The lid has a wall with a downwardly facing surface portion that is substantially flat.