A welding hose is an essential tool for welding and cutting work. But welding and cutting come with safety risks—especially because acetylene is highly flammable. So, how do you stay safe while using welding hoses? Below are proven safety tips to reduce hazards and keep your operations smooth.
1. Prioritize Daily Welding Hose Maintenance
Proper maintenance keeps your acetylene welding hose and oxygen welding hose in safe, working condition. First, always keep the hoses clean and free from damage when storing or using them.
For example, avoid leaving welding hoses exposed to direct sunlight, rain, or snow—these elements break down the hose material over time. Also, keep hoses away from acids, alkalis, oils, and other organic solvents. These substances can eat through the hose’s inner lining, causing leaks.
When storing welding hoses, stick to a temperature range of -15℃ to 40℃. You should also keep them at least 1 meter away from heat sources. This prevents the hose material from softening or melting, which could lead to dangerous leaks.
2. Avoid External Damage to Welding Hoses
External damage is a top cause of welding hose failures—so take steps to protect your hoses every time you use them.
Before you start working, blow out the talcum powder inside the welding hose. Talcum powder buildup can block the welding torch’s passage, which disrupts gas flow and increases pressure risks.
During use, never let the hoses get crushed by heavy equipment or hit by tools—this causes cracks or holes. Also, never fold the welding hose body tightly. Folding weakens the hose’s structure and can damage the inner rubber layer, leading to leaks later.
3. Never Mix Oxygen and Acetylene Welding Hoses
Mixing oxygen welding hoses and acetylene welding hoses is a major safety risk—always keep them separate.
First, never use oxygen from an oxygen hose to blow out blockages in an acetylene welding hose. This mixes oxygen and acetylene inside the hose, creating a highly explosive gas mixture.
Also, check your welding torch for defects at all times. Fix any issues right away. If you ignore leaks or blockages, oxygen and acetylene can mix inside the hoses. This mixture can ignite with a single spark, causing fires or explosions.