Fig. 5-32 Gas welding hose with fittings attached.
It is a
3
16-inch diameter. The diameter is determined by the volume
of gas required and the length of the hose. Red is the fuel gas
hose while green is the oxygen hose. David A. Tietz/Editorial
Image, LLC
provide maximum life. The oxygen hose is green, and
the word oxygen is sometimes molded on the hose. The
acetylene hose is red, and the word acetylene is some-
times molded on the hose.
A black hose is used for inert gas and air. Different-sized
hoses may be required for different types of welding
and cutting operations, depending upon the amount
of gas that is required, the length of hose used, and
the pressures that are needed. Hoses can be obtained
in sizes of 316, , 38, and inch. The 316 I.D. (inside
diameter) hose is very flexible and light; it is used for
light welding, such as aircraft welding, and as a whip
for pipe welding. The -inch I.D. is usually used for
heavy cutting. Hose may be single or double. The dou-
ble hose is actually two pieces joined by a web that
prevents tangling the hose.
Hose Connections Only hose connections made for the
purpose should be used for connecting the hose to the
regulator and the welding and cutting torch. A standard
hose connection, Fig. 5-33, consists of a nipple that is
inserted in the end of the hose and a nut that attaches
the nipple to the torch or regulator. So that there is no
danger of attaching the wrong hose to the wrong regula-
tor or torch connection, the oxygen coupling has a right-
hand thread, and the acetylene coupling has a left-hand
thread. The hose connection nuts are marked STD. OXY
for the oxygen and STD. ACET for the acetylene. In ad-
dition, the acetylene nuts have a groove cut around their
center to indicate a left-hand thread. Clamps or ferrules
connect the hose tightly to the nipple to ensure a leak-
proof connection.
Care of Hose The welder must use and care for the
hose correctly in the interest of both economy and
safety. Hose is subject to a great deal of wear even
under normal conditions; and if it is abused, the wear is
considerable. The welder is urged to take the following
precautions:
158Chapter 5Gas Welding
Fig. 5-33 Standard oxygen and acetylene hose connections.
Oxygen: right-hand thread; acetylene: left-hand thread. Note
groove indicating LH thread on all fuel gas fittings. Thermadyne
Industries, Inc.
Always use a hose to carry only one kind of gas.
A combustible mixture may result if it is used for first
one gas and then another.
Test the hose for leaks frequently by immersing the
hose at normal working pressure under water. A leak-
ing hose is a serious hazard and a waste of gas. If
there is a leak in the connection with the proper nipple
and nut, cut off the hose a few inches back and remake
the connection. Leaks in other locations should be
repaired by cutting off the bad section and inserting a
hose coupling as a splice.
Clamp all of the hose connections or fasten them se-
curely so that they will withstand a pressure of at least
300 p.s.i. without leakage.
Hose showing leaks, burns, worn places, or other
defects are unfit for service and must be repaired or
replaced.
Do not attempt to repair a hose with tape. Tape has
a tendency to break down the hose material, and it is
not a permanent repair.
Handle the hose carefully when welding. Avoid drag-
ging it on a greasy floor. The hose should not be al-
lowed to come in contact with flame or hot metal. The
hose should be protected from falling articles, from
vehicles running over it and from being stepped on. It
should not be kinked sharply.
At the end of the day or at the end of the job, roll up
the hose and hang it where it will be out of the way.
Spring-loaded hose reels are available.
Lighters
The welding torch should be lighted with a friction spark
lighter, Fig. 5-34. The flints for friction lighters can be

Fig. 5-34 Triple-flint torch friction lighter.
Thermadyne Industries, Inc.
easily replaced at small cost when worn out. Matches
should never be used because the welders hand has to
be too close to the torch tip and may be burned when the
gases ignite. If the welder carries matches in his or her
pockets, there is also the danger that they will ignite dur-
ing welding and cause severe burns.
Filler Rod
While a great deal of oxyacetylene welding or autoge-
nous welding is done by merely fusing the metal edges
together, most gas welding is done with the addition
of a filler rod. The filler rod provides the additional
metal necessary to form a larger weld bead. Filler rods
are available for the welding of mild steel, cast iron,
stainless steel, various brazing alloys, and aluminum.
The usual rod length is 36 inches, and the diameters
are 116 , 332 , 18 , 532 , 316 , 14 , 516 , and 18 inch. Welding
rods are available in bundles of 50 or 100 pounds net
weight and in boxes of 10, 50, 100, and 300 pounds
net weight.
Steel rods are copper coated to keep them from rust-
ing. The copper-coated rods are triple deoxidized GTAW
filler, usually an ER70S-2, ER70S-3, or ER70S-6 class.
RG-65, RG-60, and RG-45 are typically uncoated. Some
types of aluminum rods are flux coated to improve their
working characteristics. Both steel and aluminum rods
are 28 inches in length.
The American Welding Society has set up the fol-
lowing AWS classification numbers for steel gas-
welding rods: RG-65, RG-60, and RG-45. The letter
R indicates a welding rod and the G indicates that it is
used with gas welding. The numbers designate the ap-
proximate tensile strength of the weld metal produced
in thousand pounds per square inch. For example,
45 designates a rod with a tensile strength of approxi-
mately 45,000 p.s.i.
Rod Characteristics Gas welding rods produce welds of
varying tensile strengths depending upon the nature of the
base metal. Welds made on alloy steels will produce weld
composition between that of the base metal and the filler
metal. Gas welding rods can be used in all positions, lim-
ited only by the skill of the welder.
Class RG-65 RG-65 gas welding rods are of low alloy steel
composition and may be used to weld sheet, plate, tubes,
and pipes of carbon and low alloy steels. They produce
welds in the range of 65,000 to 75,000 p.s.i.
Class RG-60 RG-60 gas welding rods are of low alloy
composition and may be used to weld carbon steel
pipes for power plants, process piping, and other severe
service conditions. They produce welds in the range
of 50,000 to 65,000 p.s.i. This type of welding rod is
used extensively and is considered a general-purpose
welding rod. It produces highly satisfactory welds in
such materials as carbon steels, low alloy steels, and
wrought iron.
Class RG-45RG-45 gas welding rods are general-
purpose welding rods of low carbon steel composition.
They may be used to weld mild steels and wrought
iron, and they produce welds in the range of 40,000 to
50,000 p.s.i.
Fluxes
A flux is a cleaning agent used to dissolve oxides, release
trapped gases and slag, and cleanse metal surfaces for
welding, soldering, and brazing.
The oxides of all commercial metals, except steel,
have higher melting points than the metals themselves
and do not flow away readily. The function of the flux
is to combine with oxides to form a fusible slag having a
melting point lower than the metal so that it flows away
from the weld area. Since there is a wide variation in the
chemical characteristics and the melting points of the
different oxides, there is no one flux that is satisfactory
for all metals.
The melting point of a flux must be lower than that
of either the metal or the oxides formed so that it will
be liquid. The ideal flux has exactly the right fluidity at
the welding temperature so that it can blanket the molten
metal to protect it from atmospheric oxidation. It must
remain close to the weld area instead of flowing all over
the job.
Fluxes are available as dry powders, pastes, thick so-
lutions, and coatings on filler rod. Powdered fluxes are
packed in tin cans or glass jars. When not in use, they
should be stored in a closed container because they
lose their welding properties if exposed too long to the
atmosphere.
Fluxes differ in their composition and the way in
which they work according to the metals with which
they are to be used. In cast iron welding, slag forms on
the surface of the pool, and the flux breaks the slag up.
In welding aluminum the flux combats the tendency for
the heavy slag to mix with the melted aluminum and
Gas Welding Chapter 5159
weaken the weld. Flux will be explained in more detail
in connection with the welding of those metals that re-
quire the use of a flux.
Other Gas Welding Processes
Oxyhydrogen Welding Oxyhydrogen welding (OHW)
is a form of gas welding that was once used extensively.
Today it has only a limited use.
The oxyhydrogen flame is produced by burning two
volumes of hydrogen (H2) with one volume of oxygen
(O2). The result is a flame with a temperature of approxi-
mately 4,100F. The flame is almost invisible, making it
somewhat difficult to adjust the welding torch.
The equipment necessary is very similar to that used
for oxyacetylene welding. The same torches, mixers,
tips, and hose are used for both. There is some difference
in the regulators. A standard oxygen regulator is used on
the oxygen cylinder. A regulator specifically designed
for use with hydrogen must be used with the hydrogen
cylinder.
Because of the relatively low flame temperature, the
process is used principally in the welding of metals hav-
ing low melting points, such as aluminum, magnesium,
and lead. It is also used to a limited extent in the welding
of very light gauge steel and brazing operations.
The oxyhydrogen flame is still used extensively in the
welding of lead. The lower flame temperature is ideal for
lead because it has a low melting point. Oxyhydrogen is
used for welding thicknesses of lead up to or 18 inch.
For greater thicknesses the oxyacetylene flame is gener-
ally used because of the greater heat input required. An-
other advantage of oxyhydrogen welding is that there is no
deposit of carbon, which accelerates corrosion in welded
assemblies.
Fuel GasesStandard oxyacetylene welding equipment
can also be used with propane, butane, city gas, and natu-
ral gas. It is necessary to have a special fuel gas regulator
for use with these gases. Suitable heating and cutting tips
are available in a variety of sizes. City gas and natural gas
are supplied by pipelines, while propane and butane are
stored in cylinders or delivered in liquid form to storage
tanks on the users property.
Because of the oxidizing nature of the flame and the
relatively low flame temperature, these gases are not
suitable for welding ferrous materials. They are used
extensively for both manual and mechanized brazing
and soldering operations. The plumbing, refrigeration,
and electrical trades use propane in small cylinders for
many heating and soldering applications. The torches
are designed to be used with air as the combustion-
supporting gas.
160Chapter 5Gas Welding
Air-Acetylene Welding (AAW) Fuel gas burned with air
has a lower flame temperature than that obtained when
the same gas is burned with oxygen. You will recall that
oxygen mixed with a fuel gas produces the hottest flame
temperature. Air contains approximately 45 nitrogen by
volume, which is neither a fuel gas nor a supporter of com-
bustion. Thus, acetylene burned with air produces lower
flame temperatures than the other gas combinations. The
total heat content is also lowered.
Torches for use with air-acetylene are generally de-
signed to draw in the proper quantity of air from the at-
mosphere to provide combustion. The acetylene flows
through the torch at a supply pressure of 2 to 15 p.s.i.
and serves to suck in the air. For light work the acety-
lene is usually supplied from a small cylinder that is easily
transportable.
The air-acetylene flame is used for welding lead up to
approximately inch in thickness. The greatest applica-
tion is in the plumbing and electrical industry, where it is
used extensively for soldering and brazing copper tubing
with sweat-type joints.
Supporting Equipment
The welding shop should be equipped with a great deal of
equipment that is needed for the preparation of the work
and is necessary to the welding process:
A welding table with either a cast iron top, slotted to
permit the use of hold-down clamps, or a firebrick
top, Fig. 5-35.
C-clamps, carpenter clamps, various other types of
clamps, straightedges, metal blocks, V-blocks, and a
steel square for holding and lining up parts.
Grinders, air-chisels, files, and hand chisels for bevel-
ing plate.
4-0 3-0
2-6
Fig. 5-35 Welding table: angle iron construction with welded
joints and firebrick top.

Fig. 5-36 A typical gas-electric blowtorch used for
preheating. North American Manufacturing Co.
A cutting torch, gas or electric, for beveling or for re-
pair work.
Carbon, in the form of rods, plates, or paste. It is
highly fire-resistant and is useful to protect surfaces
and holes, to back up welds, to control and shape the
flow of metal, and to support and align broken parts.
Preheating equipment, Fig. 5-36, and a number of
materials to provide for slow cooling, such as fiber
cement, hydrated lime, and other commercially avail-
able materials.
A wire power brush for cleaning scale and slag.
Some jobs may need no finishing of any kind, while
others may require filing, grinding, drilling, or even
considerable machining. The welder should know
the use of the part and the type of finishing that is
going to be done before the job is welded. With this
information a good welder can keep the amount of ex-
cess metal deposited close to the finish requirements,
thus keeping the amount of postwelding work to a
minimum.
Safety Equipment
Welding and Cutting Goggles
Welders must wear specially designed goggles to pro-
tect their eyes from infrared and ultraviolet rays, flying
sparks, and particles of hot metal, Fig. 5-37. The eyes
Fig. 5-37 Deep cup oxyacetylene welding goggles. This type
can be worn over eyeglasses. Thermadyne Industries, Inc.
A B OU T WEL DIN G
Sensing Devices
Automatic sensing devices can control joint
alignment, so the welder does not have to constantly
adjust the equipment controls.
must also be protected from the heat coming from the
job. Just any kind of colored lens does not give the neces-
sary protection.
Filter lenses are made of special optical glass of vari-
ous diameters and tinted green or brown. These lenses not
only filter out the harmful rays, but they also minimize
the effect of glare to permit the welders to see their work
clearly.
The shade of the lens must be selected carefully.
Lenses can be obtained in light, medium, and dark
shades, Table 5-3 (p. 162). Lenses that are too dark cause
eye strain because welders are not able to see their work
clearly. Lenses that are too light cause the eyes to s uffer
the effects of light and heat.
The outer lens is a clear glass or plastic of optical qual-
ity and 364 to 116 inch thick. This cover lens protects the
filter lens from spatter. When the outer lens becomes
pitted and reduces vision, it should be replaced. Treated
lenses that have longer life than the untreated type can be
purchased.
Goggle frames are usually made of a tough, heat-
resistant material similar to Bakelite. They should be light
in weight and fit the face so that they are comfortable.
Although they should provide adequate ventilation, it is
important that they do not leak light.
It is foolhardy to attempt to save a few cents by pur-
chasing an inferior grade of goggles. Purchase only the
best. Never use oxyacetylene welding and cutting goggles
for welding with the electric arc.
Some welders prefer to use eye shields, Fig. 5-38,
page 162. These shields also have the clear cover lens
and the colored filter lens. The lenses are the same size
as those used in the arc welding helmets. Eye shields
provide a wide range of vision and can be used over eye-
glasses. They may be fitted with a headband and work
on a swivel.
It is also possible to obtain eyeglass-type frames that
have the correct lenses. Their use is not recommended for
welding or cutting because they do not give any protec-
tion from the sides. Thus the eyes are exposed to injurious
rays, glare, sparks, and hot particles of metal. They may
Gas Welding Chapter 5161
 Table 5-3 The Proper Shade of Welding Lens to Use for Different Types of Welding and Cutting and
the Percentage of Rays Transmitted

Percentage of Rays Transmitted

Noninjurious Injurious Injurious
Shade Recommended Uses Visible Rays Infrared Ultraviolet
2 Reflected glare and low temperature furnace work 28.0% 0.87% 1.075%
3 Light brazing and lead burning 16.0 0.43 1.035
4 Acetylene burning and brazing 6.5 None 0.097
5 Light acetylene welding and cutting 2.0 None 0.046
6 Standard shade for acetylene gas welding 0.8 None None
8 Heavy acetylene welding, electric arc cutting and welding up 0.25 None None
to 75 amperes (A)
10 Electric arc cutting and welding between 75 and 250 A 0.014 None None
12 Electric arc cutting and welding above 250 A 0.002 None None
14 Carbon arc cutting and welding 0.0003 None None

and hair should be protected by a welders cap. For over-

Fig. 5-38 This multi-purpose face shield provides uninterrupted
protection for grinding, brazing, welding, and cutting operations.
Sellstrom Manufacturing Company
be used by inspectors or onlookers since they are usually
a safe distance away from the work.
Protective Clothing and Gloves
Welders must always remember that they are working
with fire and that they should avoid any clothing that
is highly flammable. Sparks, molten bits of metal, and
hot scale are hazards. Under no circumstances should
a sweater be worn. The body should be protected by an
apron, a shop coat, or coveralls that resist fire. The head
head welding and cutting, ear protection is desirable.
Avoid wearing low-cut shoes and clothing with cuffs and
open pockets.
Women and men wear the same kinds of clothing on
the job: jeans (without cuffs), heavy shirts, high-top shoes,
and the necessary protective clothing.
The heat coming from the welding job may be very
intense. There will also be a shower of sparks, hot ma-
terial to handle, and a hot welding torch to hold. This
makes it necessary for welders to protect their hands
with gloves. Gloves should be made of nonflamma-
ble material. However, for light welding jobs it is the
common practice to wear an ordinary canvas glove
with a cuff. Gloves must be kept free from grease and
oil because of the danger involved in contact with
oxygen.
Oxyfuel cutting and heating torches are subject to
three types of phenomena: backfires, sustained back-
fires, and flashbacks. It is important to understand these
terms and be able to identify these reactions if they occur.
Chapters 7 and 8 cover this topic in more detail.
When there is danger of sharp or heavy falling objects
and when the working space is confined, hard hats or
head protectors should be worn.
Flash Guard Check Valves
Check valves prevent the reverse flow of mixed gases in
torch hoses or regulators. One valve is required for the
acetylene hose and one for the oxygen hose. They may be
attached to the torch or to the regulators.

162Chapter 5Gas Welding

 The Check Valve devices protects the torch or tip. The best way to ensure
Prevents the Reverse Flow of Gases. that accidents dont happen is for the welder to follow all
Retainer Seat Guide safety operating procedures. However, even safety equip-
ment, if used improperly, can create hazardous conditions,
which increase the risk of accidents and/or injury.
Gas Outlet
Flow Side
General Safety Operating Procedures
Protective equipment, hose, and regulators:
1. Equipment shall be installed and used only
in the service for which it is approved and as
Disk assembly
recommended by the manufacturer.
Spring compresses under
seals tight against normal flow, moving disk
2. Approved protective equipment shall be installed in
seat in event of assembly forward fuel-gas piping.
reverse flow. and allowing gas flow. 3. Hose for oxyfuel gas service shall comply with the
Specification for Rubber Welding Hose, 1958, Com-
Fig. 5-39 Check valve for an oxygen-fuel system. pressed Gas Association and Rubber Manufacturers
Adapted from Thermadyne Holdings Corporation
Association.
4. When parallel lengths of oxygen and acetylene hose
are taped together for convenience and to prevent
The Flashback Arrestor
Prevents the Reverse Flow of Gases and Flashback. tangling, not more than 4 out of 12 inches shall be
covered by tape.
Nut and
Swivel Gas-Tight Brass Check-Valve 5. Hose connections shall comply with the Standard
Assembly O-Ring Seal Housing Assembly Hose Connection Specifications, 1957, Compressed
Gas Association.
Outlet Gas 6. Hose connections shall be clamped or otherwise
Side Flow securely fastened in a manner that will withstand,
without leakage, twice the pressure to which they
are normally subjected in service, but in no case less
than a pressure of 300 p.s.i. Oil-free air or an oil-
free inert gas shall be used for the test.
Threads for Seating Stainless-Steel
Connection to Cup Sintered Filter Acts 7. Hose showing leaks, burns, worn places, or other
Torch or Regulator as a Flame Block defects rendering it unfit for service shall be re-
paired or replaced.
Fig. 5-40 Flashback arrestor for an oxygen-fuel system. 8. Pressure-reducing regulators shall be used only for
Adapted from Thermadyne Holdings Corporation
the gas and pressures for which they are intended.
The regulator inlet connections shall comply with
Regulator Connection Standards, 1958, Compressed
Some models fit internally into the torch. The check
Gas Association.
valve permits forward flow of gas and closes when gas
9. When regulators or parts of regulators, including
begins to flow in a reverse direction. The forward flow
gauges, need repair, the work shall be performed
causes a disk to move overcoming a slight spring tension.
by skilled mechanics who have been properly
However, a reverse flow would cause the disk to seat tightly
instructed.
against a seal, preventing any backflow. Figure 5-39 shows
10. Gauges on oxygen regulators shall be marked Use
the internal working of the check valve. This reverse flow
No Oil.
can be caused by a blocked torch tip, excess gas or oxygen
11. Union nuts and connections on regulators shall be
pressure, lack of pressure, or unsafe start-up or shut-down
inspected before use to detect faulty seats that may
procedures.
cause leakage of gas when the regulators are at-
Flash arrestors are generally made of a sintered metal
tached to the cylinder valves.
alloy. The sintered stainless-steel filter prevents flame
from moving upstream of the arrestor. F igure5-40 is the More information about equipment can be found in
internal working of a flashback arrestor. Neither of these Chapter 26.

Gas Welding Chapter 5163

 CHAPTER 5 REVIEW

Multiple Choice 9. Safety procedures for handling, storing, and using

Choose the letter of the correct answer. gas cylinders should be understood by every oxy-
acetylene welder. (Obj. 5-3)
1. What type of fuel did Egyptians, Greeks, and
a. True
Romans use centuries ago for fusing metal?
b. False
(Obj. 5-1)
a. Acetylene 10. Special precautions must be taken to protect the
b. Hydrogen body during welding operations. (Obj. 5-3)
c. Alcohol or oil a. True
d. Natural gas b. False
2. The hottest flame gas known is oxyacetylene, which 11. The OSHA regulation covering oxygen-fuel gas
has a maximum temperature of F. welding and cutting is . (Obj. 5-3)
(Obj. 5-2) a. 2000.007
a. 1,550 b. 1947.619
b. 3,280 c. 1910.253
c. 6,300 d. 1776.059
d. 9,260 12. The device used to lower the cylinder pressure to a
3. Oxyacetylene welding can only be used to weld safe working pressure is the . (Obj. 5-3)
basic metals such as steel and cast iron. (Obj. 5-2) a. Cylinder valve
a. True b. Regulator
b. False c. Torch
d. None of these
4. Name the gas that should be used for welding pur-
poses. (Obj. 5-2) 13. What device must be installed in the oxyacetylene
a. Acetylene welding system to eliminate the flame from going
b. Mapp back into the system and creating a hazard?
c. Propane (Obj. 5-4)
d. Natural gas a. Flash arrestor
b. Check valve
5. How is acetylene produced? (Obj. 5-2)
c. Gas hose
a. Chemical reaction of calcium carbide and water
d. Both a and b
b. Chemical reaction in an acetylene generator
c. From a chemical that is a byproduct of smelting 14. Regular sun glasses are adequate to wear for OAW.
coke and water (Obj. 5-4)
d. All of these a. True
b. False
6. How is oxygen distributed? (Obj. 5-2)
a. Gaseous form in cylinders 15. The two gauges on a regulator indicate .
b. Liquid form in cylinders (Obj. 5-4)
c. Portable oxygen generators extracting from tap a. Atmospheric pressure
water b. Cylinder pressure
d. Both a and b c. Working pressure
d. Both b and c
7. Acetylene is distributed in cylinders, which are hol-
low vessels that can safely contain the gas at any 16. Which regulator is more effective in maintaining a
pressure. (Obj. 5-2) consistent flame? (Obj. 5-4)
a. True a. Single stage
b. False b. Dual stage
8. Cylinders containing liquids must be used in the up- 17. The regulator connection to the cylinder valve
right position. (Obj. 5-2) should be in compliance with . (Obj. 5-4)
a. True a. OSHA section 1107
b. False b. Compressed Gas Association Standard, 1958

164Chapter 5Gas Welding

 c. NEMA section 1 21. List four precautions in the use and care of welding
d. AWS 3.0 tips. (Obj. 5-3)
18. Fuel-gas fittings have left-hand threads so they can- 22. Is it absolutely necessary that the eyes of the welder
not be interchanged with an oxygen fitting. How can be protected while performing the welding opera-
you generally tell by looking at a fitting if it has LH tion? Explain. (Obj. 5-3)
threads? (Obj. 5-4) 23. What kinds of protective clothing are worn for
a. It is color coded. oxyacetylene welding? (Obj. 5-3)
b. It is made of steel. 24. List the three main functions of a torch.
c. It has a groove machined into it. (Obj. 5-4)
d. All of these.
25. What does the RG-60 filler material classification
designate? (Obj. 5-4)
Review Questions 26. Explain the difference in the design of the balanced
Write the answers in your own words. pressure torch and the injector torch. (Obj. 5-4)
19. Name four gases used in various forms of gas weld- 27. Explain the function of the pressure regulators.
ing. (Obj. 5-2) (Obj. 5-4)
20. What is the approximate temperature of the 28. Explain the function of the gas economizer.
oxyacetylene flame? (Obj. 5-2) (Obj. 5-4)

INTERNET ACTIVITIES

Internet Activity A
Using the AWS Web site, find the link named Technical. (Remember, AWS is an
organization.) Click on that link to see what is new and write a report.
Internet Activity B
Look up oxyacetylene torch tips on the Internet. Choose three of the torch tips and
describe the kind of jobs for which they are used.

Gas Welding Chapter 5165